Stress Management

By Jeff Brendan

Stress is a condition in human body in which the body responds certain internal stimulus. Endocrinologist Hans Selye first described stress in 1930 as a hormone response to the stimulus both internal and external factors.

The most common hormone in stress and stress factors interplay is the adrenaline. This is a hormone that is released by the body to enhance glucose uptake and muscle cells function in readiness to response to the stimuli, also called a stressor. Because of this increased activity of body cells, some organs may end up being placed on permanent high gear of functions.

Stress is actually a good condition for human body because it warns it of the environmental condition and prepares it to respond appropriately. Therefore every human being will experience stressful situation, the stress levels and its effect on the body will vary depending on the coping mechanisms and the severity of the stressor or stimulant.

The heart for example, may be forced to pump the blood faster and this may be sustained to and therefore lead to high blood pressure. The gut may be forced to work faster and thereby lead to higher production of bile acid in readiness for increased digestion. Because the production of the bile acid is not provoked by the food presence, the acid ends up eroding the mucosal cells leading into ulcers.

Therefore some of the common symptoms of stress include faster breathing, persistent headache, stomach ulcers, weight gain or loss depending on the personality, chronic exhaustion, and high blood pressure among others.

Today, there are a number of people who are stressed. In developed countries such as USA, more than 75% of the illnesses reported to physicians are stress related. Stress and stress related illnesses are also increasing in the developing countries as the people adopt the western way of living.

As it has been pointed out in the study of stress and stress related illnesses have their genesis from perception of the mind and the eventual trigger of hormones such as adrenaline. Brain education provides opportunity for control of the negative energy and the brain. The education provides skills for control of human body through providing information on how to control motor and cognitive parts of the body through simple exercises.

By Lyndsay Swinton

Everyone needs successful stress management techniques. Easy to learn and easy to

implement, you can use them for your own stress management or teach them to help others

manage theirs.
Manage your stress and be a healthier, happier and more pleasant person to be around. Let’s

cut to the chase…

1. Make stress your friend

Acknowledge that stress is good and make stress your friend! Based on the body’s natural

“fight or flight” response, that burst of energy will enhance your performance at the right

moment. I’ve yet to see a top sportsman totally relaxed before a big competition. Use

stress wisely to push yourself that little bit harder when it counts most.

2. Stress is contagious

Stressed people sneeze stress germs indiscriminately and before you know it, you are

infected with stress germs too!

Protect yourself from stress germs by recognising stress in others and limiting your

contact with them. Or if you’ve got the inclination, play stress doctor and teach them how

to better manage their stress.

3. Copy good stress managers

When people around are losing their head, which keeps calm? What are they doing

differently? What is their attitude? What language do they use? Are they trained and

experienced?
Figure it out from afar or sit them down for a chat. Learn from the best stress managers

and copy what they do.

4. Use heavy breathing.

You can trick your body into relaxing by using heavy breathing. Breathe in slowly for a

count of 7 then breathe out for a count of 11. Repeat the 7-11 breathing until your heart

rate slows down, your sweaty palms dry off and things start to feel more normal.

5. Stop stress thought trains

It is possible to tangle yourself up in a stress knot all by yourself. “If this happens,

then that might happen and then we’re all up the creek!” Most of these things never happen,

so why waste all that energy worrying needlessly?

Give stress thought-trains the red light and stop them in their tracks. Okay so it might go

wrong – how likely is that, and what can you do to prevent it?

6. Know your stress hot spots and trigger points

Presentations, interviews, meetings, giving difficult feedback, tight deadlines…My heart

rate is cranking up just writing these down!

Make your own list of stress trigger points or hot spots. Be specific. Is it only

presentations to a certain audience that get you worked up? Does one project cause more

stress than another? Did you drink too much coffee?

Knowing what causes you stress is powerful information, as you can take action to make it

less stressful. Do you need to learn some new skills? Do you need extra resources? Do you

need to switch to de-caffeinated coffee?

7. Eat, drink, sleep and be merry!

Lack of sleep, poor diet and no exercise wreaks havoc on our body and mind. Kind of

obvious, but worth mentioning as it’s often ignored as a stress management technique.

Listen to your mother and don’t burn the candle at both ends!