How Harmful is Stress?

Eliminating stress is something most people strive for, but is stress really that bad for you?

The results of stress depend upon on the circumstance as well as upon the length of time that stress stays with you. The best way to think of stress is to think of it as an acquaintance that you can tolerate, even appreciate, in small doses.

Ever heard of too much of a good thing? Meet stress. In fact, too much of it will turn him/her into a life-threatening enemy. When stress lingers and stays long-term in your life, it inevitably negatively impacts upon your physical and mental well-being.

According to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, when stress is present long-term, the body's inability to repair and defend itself weakens. What increases is the risk of someone becoming ill or injured.

When you experience long-term stress, a variety of problems can be thrust upon you. You might have any or all of the following symptoms: headaches, chest pain, high blood pressure, an inability to sleep, shortness of breath, anxiety, weight gain or loss, an inability to concentrate, disminished sex drive, sadness, irritability, forgetfulness, etc.

No one wants these problems, so of course, seeking stress relief is these circumstances is a very good idea. Long-term exposure to consistent stress leads to other, more serious health problems. Some even say that stress is related to about 99% of illness. Why wouldn't anyone be seeking stress relief in these circumstances?

While it's difficult to measure exactly, one thing seems certain: long-term stress is bad for your health, and for your quality of life. And you must find healthy stress relief methods, whether it's yoga, meditating, enjoying a hobby or walking.

No matter how resilient you may be, remember that no good can come out of having constant stress in your life on a regular basis. Absolutely none.

What if you're really stuck and can't immediately see a way out of eliminating stress? It's much more difficult than snapping your fingers and saying, "Ok. Stress, it's over between us. Don't call me ever again unless it's an emergency."

What if it's your job that is giving you stress? If it is, you're not alone. One in four people feel stress from their jobs, according to information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You don't have to necessarily leave it, and if you need the money from it and even like/love it, then you shouldn't quit. You need to find better ways of coping with stress so that it's a win/win situation. You get to keep the job you love and/or need and you don't suffer constant stress from it.

What if it's your relationships that are causing you stress? Should you cut off all ties with these people? Not necessarily, but something about the way you handle the stress from those relationships or the quality of those relationships should improve.

What if stress is coming from a wonderful change, like getting married to the right person or moving to a fabulous new home? It's not surprising that even great events cause stress when they are accompanied by great change. Stress can definitely come from great change--change causes stress.

Very simply put, if you suffer from stress, you need to find ways to manage your stress, to get some great stress relief. This can be done on a small scale and have huge results. Taking even small steps will improve your quality of life and reduce your stress level, which contributes to better health.

Stress relief can certainly be a key ingredient in creating a life that is healthy, happy and longer. Start small steps towards eliminating stress. Commit to meditating every morning for five minutes (before any one else knows you're awake and you'll have better chances of not being disturbed). Take a relaxing bath, go for a walk alone. Stick to one of these new activities and you'll find that stress can be managed.

About the Author

Ivy and Amanda are certified high school teachers with experience in promoting self esteem, and offer creative and insightful self improvement tips, worksheets, quotes and articles designed to help you with your journey towards greater fulfillment which can all be found at their website: www.self-improvement-starting-now.com