4. SKILLS TO COPE WITH STRESS
Stress refers to a contraction of important muscles on a part or various part of the body such as balancing or moving. Studies show that every time we think or get in a mood, there will always be a contraction or a movement of muscles in the body.
Stress can be both beneficial and harmful. Harmful stress is not essential. When one is under stress, the body will prepare itself to either “retaliate” or “escape” from the stimulus by stimulating the heart in order to pump more blood containing oxygen and nutrients through the cells in the body, rapidly removing wastes from bloodstream, breathing faster but more shallow, adrenaline and other hormones are pumped into the bloodstream, the iris of the eye becomes enlarged to let more light enter, muscles contract to prepare to fight or escape, the blood vessels of some organs in the digestive system shrink, and the metabolism rate increases resulting in a higher body temperature and sweating. All these reactions will return to normal after getting past the crisis. However, toxins from excessive harmful stress will remain.
The Effects of Stress towards Living
The effects of stress on your physical health may include certain conditions such as headaches, pain in the body, abnormalities of the heart, high blood pressure, gastric disorders, constipation or diarrhea, insomnia, asthma, erectile dysfunction, etc.
The effects towards mental health include such symptoms as anxiety, depression, unreasonable fear, emotional instability, or certain neurotic disorders.
The Causes of Stress
- General environmental factors such as loud noises from machines or mechanical devices, air pollution, wastewater, dust, insecticides, and crowded places.
- Poor economic conditions such that income cannot meet expenditures.
- Social environments: for example, educational competition, work, worries about promotions, etc.
- Unpleasant interpersonal relations which includes disputes with others that occur regularly.
- Feelings of inferiority.
- A desire to dominate others.
How to Reduce Stress as Follows:
1. Deal with the consequences of stress by using certain drugs including balms, inhalants, painkillers, antacids, and tranquilizers.
2. Deal with the causes of stress by adjusting your way of life to reduce stresses; for example, finding a hobby and exercising.
3. Change your habits and attitudes in daily life to reduce competition with others, be more flexible, and less strict.
4. Learn about proper nutrition. Certain foods and beverages can increase or decrease stress.
5. Observe and change your attitudes about yourself and others. Be more optimistic.
6. Observe and improve interpersonal relationships with your family members and others in society.
7. Learn different ways to relax such as breath control, meditation, simple exercising, muscle relaxing, and massage. Try new sitting, lying, standing, and walking positions, and use your imagination to think about pleasant things.
When getting stressed out, try to consider what the cause of the stress is and apply any of the methods above to reduce stress. This may partly or totally reduce the stress.
