Stress Management

In a time when we need to give our health all the help we can, we need to identify the sources of our stress and take action to prevent or at least reduce, its effects.  We need to remember that when we are under chronic stress, we can only plan in the short term.

When addressing the problem of stress, writers tend to emphasise the exposure to too much stress without regard to exposure to too little stress!

 A lack of goals can have an equally distressing effect on psychological health and biological health.  Having no goals can produce as much stress as having too many.  Similarly, no ambition can lead to illness as quickly as too much ambition.

Often, psychological and physical illness reflects unresolved problems within the person.  Relationship problems are mainly between people, with their mind, body and the environment in which they find themselves playing a secondary role.  This is not to say that the last three cannot affect the individual – they obviously can, but the power for good health, both psychologically and physiologically, lies ultimately within the person.

For example, who can deny the health benefits of being in love?  The eyes are clear, the complexion glows!  These are biological effects, caused by the release of noradrenaline hormone, due to changes in the person’s perception, producing changes in brain chemistry and thus body chemistry.

It is also true that those in love get sick less often.  If they do, they recover more quickly. 

Alas, the loss of love to a rival or death can have the reverse effect.  The immune system is boosted with a positive outlook to life.  Similarly, the adoration given the famous by the masses boosts self esteem and can promote good health by stimulating the immune system. 

Research has shown that stress has a direct effect on the immune system.  Indeed, recent studies have shown that extended stress can inhibit the immune system’s response to certain infections, leading to a greater frequency and severity of disease.

Malfunction – illness – can be subjective (self) or objective (society).

An individual may be functioning normally from their viewpoint, but socially, or another member of that society, could regard the individual as malfunctioning or as being ill – or even a political or criminal threat!

Stress can cloud our thinking, and therefore our decision making and our judgement, which can also have an adverse affect on our health.  People often attempt to reduce their stress levels by increased use of alcohol and other drugs or by sex.

Stress Management is about the individual controlling, or disconnecting from, the strain created by others or individuals representing society.  It is also about resolving existing goals or discovering new goals within oneself.

As a stress management consultant, I represent the interests of my clients, not society.  Society is more often represented by priests, politicians, psychologists, doctors, family or social workers and sometimes the police.  These are often well meaning individuals – more rarely uncaring individuals – but they can be bad for your health!  Your goals, or lack of goals, can also be bad for your health.

These notes are mainly directed towards adults who have survived childhood and are not meant to minimise the responsibilities of parents, carers or teachers in their role or responsibilities for the young.  The young can also create excess stress on adults – especially if parenting or teaching adopts unrealistically liberal theories!

All life forms react to stress, as do non life forms such as rocks or the planet itself.

Keep and eye out for the Next post ..

If you feel you would like some help managing any stress you may be undergoing please don’t hesitate to cal me on 00356 99355901

Keep well everyone

Kim x