It's almost impossible to live without some stress. And most of us wouldn't want too much stress, because if stress gets out of control, it may harm your health, your relationships, and your enjoyment of life. Stress is not an illness – it is a state. However, if stress becomes too excessive and prolonged, individuals can begin to suffer anxiety, depression and health problems. At first these health problems are mild, but can then get progressively more serious as we continue to experience repeated stress and have fewer ways of coping with it. Warning signs of stress can start as mildly unpleasant health symptoms, such as headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, nervous indigestion and palpitations. If the stress is not addressed, more severe problems may begin such as neck and back problems, ulcers, blood and heart disorders and possible eventual physical and mental breakdown. It can also affect the way we behave, with symptoms including
Accident proneness, drug taking, emotional outburst, excessive eating, loss of appetite, excessive drinking, smoking, excitability, impulsive behaviour, impaired speech, nervous laughter, restlessness, and trembling.

In this case, Carole was stressed with the increased quantity of work she was given by Richard and became unable to work effectively. She did not speak to Richard to rectify this, and then when Richard was absent, she took on more work to cover for him, adding to her stress levels. She worked late in the evenings, not eating properly, drinking more alcohol and distancing herself from her friends. She started to have recurrent headaches and became angry and upset with her work colleagues, Joanne and Ian. If Carole does not break this cycle that she is on her stress levels will continue to increase and she will progressively feel worse. She may feel like the stress in her life is out of your control, but she can always control the way she responds.

Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. Stress management involves changing the stressful situation when you can, changing your reaction when you can’t, taking care of yourself, and making time for rest and relaxation. A strong support network is your greatest protection against stress. When you have trusted friends and family members you know you can count on, life’s pressures don’t seem as overwhelming. So spend time with the people you love and don’t let your responsibilities keep you from having a social life.| |