What is Stress?

Stress is the body’s response to demands or threats. For example, when under threat, your adrenal glands make the fight or flight hormones to assist you to get you out a threatening situation. In addition to helping you to get out of a threatening situation, a certain amount of stress in our lives can be good as it motivates us to get things done. 

However, too much stress has adverse health effects and reduces productivity. It is well known that under continuous high level of stress, in addition to the damage to your mental health, your physical health, such as your immune system, can be adversely affected by the same hormones, secreted by your adrenal glands. 

Health problems that could indicate you are under too much stress could include the following:

  1. Unexplained aches and pains
  2. Sleep disturbances 
  3. Digestive problems 
  4. Poor Weigh management 
  5. Higher frequency of illnesses, such as the common cold 
  6. Symptoms of heart problems 

A few cognitive symptoms may be the following:

  1. Poor concentration
  2. Seeing the negative more often 
  3. Constant worrying 
  4. Poor judgment 
  5. Anxiety and racing thoughts 

What Causes Stress? 

The situations and pressures that can cause stress are called stressors. We tend to associate stressors with issues, such as work, relationship matters and financial matters. However, anything that places a high demand on you is a stressor. 

The situations that cause stress are partly a matter of perception. A situation that may be stressful to one person maybe enjoyable to another. For example, while some of us may be terrified by public speaking, some others thrive on it and enjoy the spotlight. 

How do you manage stress? 

If your stressors are affecting your daily routine, work, and relationships, you may need to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist, depending on the severity of the level that you may have been affected. Consulting your GP on this matter is highly recommended. 

If you live in Brisbane or regional areas of Australia, please call Takes Care Specialist Centre on 07 3870 9388 to see how our psychiatrists and psychologist can assist you. 

In the meantime, the following 5 tips may assist you with managing your symptoms:

  1. Identify the issues that you can control or influence and those that are no in your control. 
  2. Set priorities by concentrating on the issues that can control or change. 
  3. Take a closer look at your responsibilities and identify the tasks that you can share or delegate. Then ask for help. 
  4. Learn to say no gracefully. Saying no may come hard for some people. But it is an important art to acquire for survival. 
  5. Humour is the best medicine. Look for humour in your daily life, as laughter releases the hormones that helps the body to relax.