How does stress affect me and what are some effective stress management techniques?
Stress has been defined by experts, such as Dr. Hans Selye, as the arousal of an individuals mind and body in response to demands or changes made upon them. Understand that stress can be non-specific, that is, it can be positive (eustress) such as riding a roller coaster or winning the lottery, or it can be negative (distress) such as getting divorced or being convicted of a crime, but the impact upon us is basically the same. It can come in the form of intense, burst stress (with a fight-or-flight response), or it can present itself as a nagging, daily hassle type of pain-in the-neck stress that can create cumulative mind-body problems. Gastro-intestinal symptoms, headaches, back pain, mood-swings and a host of other issues typically manifest themselves when ongoing stress is not addressed. Untreated stress can not only impact upon your quality of life-it literally makes you sick. Proper diet, incorporating B Complex vitamins, aerobic exercise, biofeedback, CBT, relaxation training, a
