What is Stress?

All of us have felt stressed out at some point or the other in our lives. Stress occurs when the body cannot cope up with the external demands made on us. A disturbance of the body’s balanced condition can be termed as stress. These stressful conditions are relative in nature. The same condition may not be stressful for everyone. It depends on the mental strength of the person. Too much of stress however, can take its toll on the health.

Physical Aspects of Stress- Certain hormones like adrenaline and cortisone are released into the blood when the brain is challenged. They increase the blood pressure and get ready to combat with the stressful situation. The blood pressure gets back to normal and the anxiety is alleviated when the hormones are used up in fighting stress. If the condition persists, the hormones remain in the blood stream causing a feeling of anxiety, tense muscles, dizziness and rapid heart beats.

Stress accumulated over a long time can lead to headaches, insomnia, back aches or irritable bowel syndrome. Serious life threatening diseases like diabetes, cardiac ailments and even cancer can be  manifestations of a stressful lifestyle.

Positive Aspects of Stress- Stress in moderation is good for us. Without it most of us would be lethargic and repetitive in our actions. Stress provides us with the challenge to excel and motivates us to compete against our fellow human beings. Stress can help us achieve our objective by making us aware of our hidden potential. It also acts as a defense mechanism for us. We can defend ourselves in  high pressure situations  as the increased adrenaline flow sharpens our reflexes and helps us survive in adverse conditions.

Coping with Stress- Relaxation techniques, rejuvenating massages, meditation can all help to fight stress. Light physical exercises, dancing, listening to soothing music or even deep breathing may help in reducing stress.