What are the stages of stress build up and how can we combat the serious effects? With the holiday season approaching many of my clients are rushing to fit in a treatment. There is almost a sense of urgency to have everything done in order to relax with family and friends. Listening to them open up during a therapy session it’s clear that the stress involved in attempting to create the perfect family time is making things worse and not better. Keeping to work deadlines and perhaps fitting in extra in order to make time to relax has a negative effect. Add to all of this the food shopping, organizing family visits, and keeping children amused with activities. We are expected to deal with a full time job, support a happy, healthy family, exercise regularly and be upstanding members of the community. It is the perfect recipe for aggravation. This expectation puts undue strain on relationships making it all feel less manageable than ever. Stress builds over time creeping up to prevent you from enjoying life. What most don’t realize is that stress builds in stages. Recognizing early signs can prevent burn out, a serious condition that may take months, if not years, to recover from. So what are the stages of stress build up and how can we combat the serious effects? Stage One This is known as positive stress. The Adrenaline rush that sharpens our minds before an exam or a job interview. It helps us to make big decisions, enhances our ability to solve problems, handle changing situations and make progress. Stage Two If the stress barometer rises from stage one we enter a less positive time.  Long periods of stress can cause feelings of despondency. Difficulty with sleeping causes tiredness and irritability.  This is the stage where people often resort to alcohol or drugs to feel relief. Some over eat for comfort.  Stress may not be recognized as the cause and by using these things as props, people often soldier on. Stage Three Left for a long period of time, untreated symptoms of stress will worsen. Physical symptoms may now include indigestion, heartburn and migraine as well as the earlier ones mentioned. At this point the sufferer may begin treatment for the symptoms, but not always the cause. Stage Four Once this stage is reached critical symptoms are starting to manifest. A buildup of stomach acid may cause ulcers. High blood pressure can result in heart attack or stroke as the worst case scenario. Stage Five Once this stage is reached, a complete breakdown of confidence can occur. Optimism and work are impossible. Depression and anxiety may engulf the sufferer as they burn out. Our thoughts act as drugs on the physical body. Negative thinking releases adrenaline for the fight or flight response as it secretes into the bloodstream Muscles tense up and breathing may change. The liver releases stored glycogen or sugar which causes a rise in cholesterol levels. The response is useful when we are faced with real danger. Unfortunately, every day stresses do not pose such threats, so the buildup of body chemicals has no release, causing physical damage. Vitamins that keeps us healthy become depleted, particularly B, C, and E.  As the reserves deplete, the body struggles to combat the effects of stress. Treatment of stress will vary with the individual. Whether you seek medical or alternative intervention it’s important to find something that you can put your trust and confidence in. Diet plus a vitamin replacement and exercise to release endorphins are beneficial and give back a feeling of taking control of the situation. Fruit and vegetables feed the nervous system and a balanced diet aids the whole body. Exercise does not have to involve grueling hours at the gym. A walk in fresh air can be just as beneficial. Practice relaxation and meditation. Take time to re-establish your spiritual faith and draw strength from it. Try to identify the major causes of stress. Are they easily removed? If not, how may you adapt to them? Always turn a negative situation into a positive. Find the strength you have learned from the experience and incorporate this into feelings of self-confidence. Console yourself that this stressful period will not last forever. It begins as a signal that your life needs to change. By making positive changes you can turn your life around, enhance happiness and improve relationships. Learning to recognize the symptoms and managing stress is a skill that will last you a lifetime! Views:]]>