Stress Affects Health if We Don't Find Ways to Manage It Effectively

How stress affects health has been heavily researched in recent years. Looking at the amount of daily stress we face there seems to be a correlation between the amount of stress and a number of health issues people are experiencing. According to the American Institute of Stress, 75 to 90 percent of doctor visits can be attributed to stress.*

That's a lot of people going to the doctor. And how many more stressed out people don't go?

If we were to look at the amount of people taking medications for depression, anxiety, stress, and ADD, it has been estimated that over half the population is on some related medication. When we add the number of people with alcohol and drug addictions to the picture we can see that our society is not doing a good job of handling the amount of stress that we are living with these days.

So, how does stress affect health ?

When we are in a constant state of stress our nervous system is in an emergency alert mode. Our minds will continue to send out the stress signals and the messengers will communicate to our cells a fight or flight situation is upon us. Our bodies keep preparing for an emergency which can lead to adrenal exhaustion or any type of unhealthy syndromes in our bodies and minds.

Consequently how stress affects health is a subject we can all learn from and practice. There are ways to manage life that can ultimately lead to a less stressful way of reacting to it. For ideas on stress tips click here

I know this subject hits a few notes with me as I keep trying to learn how to change my own ways of dealing with things I stress about, so I know the challenges first hand. From my own experience I try to be aware of my stress patterns. I look for natural healthy ways to deal with stress and for me that is being proactive in my life and being open to learn and try new things.

Bad things happen, and we all experience periods of sadness in life. Sadness is a normal, healthy reaction to many events, and most people start to feel better over time as they deal with their emotions.

People who are depressed can't beat their feelings of extreme sadness, no matter what they do, and their depression symptoms can continue for a long period of time. Depression is not just a matter of feeling blue; it’s an illness that often needs treatment. If you don't feel like you are able to get a handle on lowering your daily stress, it is important to talk to your health care professional to see if counseling or medication may be helpful to you at this time in your life.

Stress affects health, so take good care of yourself, you're the only person responsible for your best self.

The Tapping Solution link above is a simple technique of tapping on your meridians for a multitude issues. They offer a free introduction to the system so you can give it a try. Last year I attended their Tapping World Summit online, a free seminar of different topics taught by teachers in the Emotional Freedom Techniques. I found it to be helpful in some areas for me. Stop by sometime and learn about this unique method that you can use for yourself.

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* Clare Kittredge. "The Physical Side of Stress." EverydayHealth.com 7/21/2009

- "You The Owner's Manual" by Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. 2005