WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT STRESS.

WHATS IS STRESS. Stress can be described in the following ways: -Any action or situation that places physical and psychological demands upon a person. -Demands on an individual that tax or exceed his adjustive capacity. -Body’s response to pressure. 

WHAT CAUSES STRESS? Stress is caused by stressors. A stressor is anything that is capable of creating a disturbance. In summary, 3 elements [extrinsic, intrinsic and environment] are involved in the expression of stress namely:
1. EXTRINSIC STIMULANTS Cigarettes Tea Coffee Refined sugar Salt
2. INTRINSIC STIMULANTS Anger Fear Excitement Frustration
3. ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULANTS Exhaust fumes Exposure to heat or cold Pollution Dirty environment
4. CAUSES OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRESS -Job overload -Role conflict -Poor working conditions -Non-participation in decision making -Unfair performance appraisal -Job insecurity -Lack of recognition -Responsibility for others -Role ambiguity -Poor relationship with colleague’s
 WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF STRESS? There are two types namely Eustress and Distress. EUSTRESS (POSITIVES) This stimulates, invigorates and enriches life. Leads to fulfillment and achievement of goals and objectives. Eustress is also good/necessary for coping with sudden demand/challenges such as: -Deadlines -Examination -work challenges -Training for physical fitness -Mental/emotional stress (healthy for the mind)
 DISTRESS (NEGATIVE) This is PERSISTENT and LONG TERM PRESSURE, mostly bad because of the duration. -Leads to lack of productivity, inefficiency, breakdown in health and other stress related disorders. The duration rather than the degree makes DISTRESS bad.
WHY DO WE NEED STRESS? Some level of mental and emotional stress is healthy for the mind. We all need some level of stimulation if not, we decline into APATHY. Stress, whether for intrinsic (emotional) or extrinsic (chemical) cause will both cause an over stimulation of the ADRENAL and THYROID GLANDS to release Adrenaline/Thyroxin respectively. If this is persistent for a long term, it will invariablely lead to deleterious consequences that would culminate in cell/organ damage, which may be life threatening, and may even result in death.
 WHY DO WE HAVE STRESS? We simply have stress when there is a persistent interaction between demand/pressure from the intrinsic and extrinsic environment.
 HOW DO WE RECOGNISE STRESS? We can recognize stress though the stress response, which can be either short term or long term in duration it is designated as S-TRS (short term stress response) and L-TSR (long term stress response) 
SYMPTOMS OF S-TSR -Clenched teeth/hands -Tense muscles -Increased sensitivity of pain -Sweaty hands/feet -Low sex drive -Faster heart beat
SYMPTOMS OF L-TSR -Appetite loss -Headaches -Indigestion -Low immunity -Increased heart problems -Increased blood pressure -Chest/neck/shoulder pain Those L-TRS, of persistent nature would translate to “stronger” sings namely; -Difficulty falling asleep (INSOMMIA) -Difficulty concentrating in daytime -Feeling too busy to get anything done or enjoy life. Those physical disorders would culminate in some familiar emotional problems such as: -Edginess -Aggression -Sexual problems -Marital strife -Insomnia -Eating “junk food” instead of meals.
 HOW DO WE COPE WITH STRESS/ STRESSORS? Our ability to cope with stress will depend on: -Genetic constitution of the person involved -Social environment surrounding the subject -Societal influence that impinge on the character of subject. -Emotional balance of the individual FACTS -Stress is inescapable -It is no respecter of persons -It is a silent killer, but the good news is -It can be controlled and managed.
 HOW DO WE MANAGE STRESS? -Management of stress would involve a cocktail of the following -Exercise (Physical and Mental) -Relaxation -Religious beliefs and conviction -Counselling -Nutritional supplement(Vitamins and Ginseng)