What to Know About Stress

Stress affects our bodies in many different ways. Even though you don't work on Wall Street doesn't mean you don't suffer from stress if you're a housewife. As a matter of fact, motherhood and the daily stress of raising children can raise anyone's blood pressure. Does that make their stress any different from that experienced by a stockbroker? School students experience extreme stress and pressure as well as a high-powered corporate attorney. Stress these days isn't measured by any job description. Stress is stress, no two ways about it. But stress caused by different factors can affect the body in different ways. Stress from a high pace job may result in ulcers while stress caused by daily child rearing activities can result in a pounding headache.

Stress is a state of mind and one that our body reacts to and can affect all age groups at the most unexpected times. Some people thrive on stress while others freak at the least little bump in the road. Work related stress is familiar to most of us, but did you know there is also 'relationship' stress and 'child rearing' stress?

Stress is natural, to some degree. It's the way out body reacts to pressures or responsibilities that seem overwhelming. Stress is capable of causing irritability or depression if not eventually addressed. Stress is our ancestral way of dealing with danger. We react to stress in a 'fight or flight' response. Most of us deal with new situations in a calm, rational manner, but for some people, stress accelerates the heartbeat and causes sweaty palms and shaking hands. Those symptoms are caused by adrenaline being pumped into your bloodstream. Even if the situation isn't dangerous, glucose and fatty acids increase in order to provide our body with adequate levels of energy, just in case we need to run.

Most stressful situations won't demand that we make a hasty escape, even if we want to. Finding ways to deal with stress, one that works for you is the key to managing stress before symptoms affect your health.