Stress Defined

The term stress has gained a bad reputation in our society because it conjures up images of struggling, pressured, overworked people with no chance of gaining peace and simplicity in their lives. Stress, however, by itself is not necessarily a bad thing. Stress is a term for the body's response to those physical and emotional stimuli surrounding it. These come in countless forms: careers, relationships, phone calls, sports, driving, weather... the list goes on and on. The problem is not stress itself; the problem is what happens when the stressors (the stimuli) become overwhelming and the body and mind do not manage the stress well.

Common Symptoms

The issue that most people refer to as stress is really excessive or unmanaged stress. But for simplicity's sake, we will refer to the issue as stress from this point on. The symptoms of stress vary widely and cover many aspects of a sufferer's life. Common symptoms include:

• Sleeplessness
• Fatigue
• Change in eating habits
• Tension in muscles
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Elevated blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Alcohol/drug use

Excessive stress is very difficult to diagnose because the symptoms often mimic other illnesses or conditions. The body's response to stress is chemical (hormones/neurotransmitters are released), which in turn affects other body systems and our emotional and mental responses. So there is no doubt that stress has physiological effects and they can be profound.

Treatment Strategies

Treatment of stress usually focuses on two factors: the sources of the stress and the body's reactions to the stress. These can be treated separately, yet simultaneously, and by doing so the body and mind can find tremendous relief.

By minimizing the stress-causing elements, one can then lessen the body's need to manage stress. By creating patterns in daily life, many "surprises" and unplanned sources of stress can be eliminated. Limiting exposure to stressors for long periods of time helps. This may require taking short mental and physical breaks from work, children, and other demands. Long breaks—vacations, dates, travels—from time to time will also help reduce exposure to stress. Finally, removing chemicals from the body that contribute to stress will help. Nicotine, alcohol, and drugs can have negative effects on how the body manages stress.

There are several proven ways to improve the way the body reacts to stress. True meditation has both immediate and long-term effects on the body and mind. Meditation techniques can be learned from seminars, therapists, multimedia, and books. Additionally, the body's chemical reactions to stress can be altered by a regimen of exercise. Exercise can lower the chemical release caused by stress, thus minimizing the body's overall reaction. Finally, therapy can often address all of the issues by creating a plan to follow that allows a person to work on all aspects of his/her life.

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