What is the actual stress?
Stress is a word that you find many people using nowadays.
Running late, an argument with someone, strict deadline, breaking, or losing something are frequent occurrences. When it happens, you will hear someone say, “it is causing me stress.” Some even tell others, “you are stress.”
Do we use the word very casually without thinking about its real meaning? Maybe yes.
The right way to know you got stress is by determining the actual meaning of the word and its effects.
Stress is a physical or emotional tension that causes you to feel uneasy. The feeling is the reaction of the body to demand or challenge due to thought, or even that causes frustration, anger, or nervousness.
Positive stress
Stress can be a monster, but did you know that it can sometimes be beneficial. It can help in rising to meet challenges, sharpen your concentration to get something right, keep you alert. It can also push you to do something that you would have postpones like studying instead of relaxing. In emergencies, stress may become a life savior by giving you sudden extra strength for self-defense like spurring you to run from a dangerous situation or slam brakes to prevent a car accident.
Dangerous stress
Stress is not helpful when it extends beyond a particular point to affect your mood, productivity, quality of life, relationships, and even health.
You should know that it is becoming dangerous for you if you have stress that causes you to feel frazzled and overwhelmed, yet you cannot get rid of them.
Stress affects people differently. Some people cope with others, but the body can also handle small doses. You should plan for medical help if you notice these symptoms of long term and chronic stress.
Physical
- Headaches
- Low energy
- Stomach upsets
- Pains, aches, and tense muscles
- Rapid heartbeat and chest pain
- Insomnia
- Frequent infections and colds
- Low libido
- Nervousness and frequently shaking
- Cold sweating on hands and feet
- Dry mouth and swallowing difficulties
- Clenched jaw
Emotional
- Low self-esteem and worthlessness
- Loneliness and feeling an urge to avoid others
- Depression
- Frequent agitation, frustration, and moodiness
- Overwhelming feeling and lack of control
- Difficulties in relaxing
Cognitive
- Stress causes these cognitive (mental) symptoms
- Constant worry
- Forgetfulness and disorganization
- Racing thoughts
- Poor judgment and inability to focus
- Pessimism and negativity
It is time for you to take action by consulting a doctor, counselor, or therapist if you are suffering from one of the symptoms. Chronic stress will also trigger other physical, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular problems that you can mistake for a disease.
They will help you to recognize symptoms of stress of chronic stress and start taking steps to cope and reduce the harmful effects.
The importance of consulting a specialist is that you might not have surety about the cause of symptoms. A professional will correctly identify if you have stress, determine potential causes, and teach coping methods.
Get emergency help if you get chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, or nausea. Also, get quick help if you feel pain in the shoulder, arm, back, or jaw.
You now know the actual presence of stress so as not to use it wrongly.