Stress
Stress is described as an unpleasant emotional reaction that a person experiences when they perceive a threatening event. Generally, stress is positive in emergency situations, as it allows our nervous system to react quickly to danger.
In everyday life, we have different stress reactions to the situations we face daily. People cope with stress in different ways. Some know how to manage it better than others, and therefore don't suffer as much from it.
There are two ways to cope with stress: problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. In problem-focused coping, the individual reduces stress by taking action to change the stressful situation. An example would be changing jobs if the current one is causing stress. In contrast, in emotion-focused coping, the person doesn't change anything about the situation but tries to improve their feelings about it. Examples include "thinking positively," trying not to dwell on stressful things, and so on.
Both approaches to coping with stress are effective for different situations. There are times when nothing can be done to change the stressful situation, for example, the death of a loved one. This is a situation that causes a great deal of stress, but it cannot be changed; what can be addressed is the feeling and the emotion.
People who are able to manage stress effectively experience fewer adverse consequences from it.
Another way people cope with stress is through avoidance. Some people, instead of facing the situation, avoid it and resort to drugs or alcohol as a way to escape. This coping mechanism can lead to bigger problems in a person's life.
In stress management, it is expected that the person will be able to channel negative feelings into productive activities.
Stress produces physiological abnormalities. A stressful event causes changes in the body and decreases resistance to disease (the immune system). Several studies have examined the relationship between stress and physical illness, finding that stressors lasting more than a month are more likely to cause illness than those of short duration. Common causes of stress include problems at work and within the family.
Medical treatments alone are not enough to combat stress. Ideally, they should be combined with psychotherapy, which aims to develop strategies for managing stressful situations and cultivate self-awareness.
Stress can be lifesaving, as mentioned earlier, since it's very useful in dangerous situations. But when it persists over time, it becomes a health problem.
Any event that triggers an emotional response can cause stress. This includes both positive situations (the birth of a child, marriage) and negative ones (job loss, the death of a family member). Stress can also arise from minor irritations, such as waiting too long in traffic. Situations that cause stress for one person may be insignificant for another.
The most common causes of stress are work, family, and financial pressure.
Symptoms
Depression
Anxiety
Headaches or backaches
Insomnia, fatigue
Indigestion, constipation, diarrhea
Rashes
Sexual dysfunction
Rapid heart palpitations
Nervousness
Neck tension
Gain or lose weight
Irritability
Anger
Treatment
Stress can be treated medically, but often the problem doesn't end with medication, and doctors even recommend psychotherapy. This is because an illness that appears physical, like gastritis, is actually caused by psychological factors. I recommend that people experiencing stress seek psychotherapy, but if that's not possible, here are some recommendations.
- Exercising always helps reduce stress.
- Having friends to share positive and negative situations with.
- Learn relaxation techniques, for example, meditation, yoga, etc.
- Avoid excessive use of alcohol or tranquilizers to cope with stressful situations.
- Maintain a nutritious and balanced diet.
- Attend psychotherapy. In this setting, you will develop effective strategies for managing stress.
Is stress affecting your daily life?
Bibliography
- Halgin, R (2003) Psychology of Abnormality. McGraw-Hill: Mexico
