–What is stress?
–Types of stress
–What causes stress & what is the solution?
–Relaxation
What is stress?
Stress can be defined as a state of being tense, uncomfortable, being uneasy, in discomfort, or in pain. Stress can manifest in various forms and affect different aspects of our lives. It can be physical, mental or emotional.
Types of stress
Physical Stress: This could occur in cases where the body or physical human structure is subjected to pain, extremes of temperature (either heat or cold), punctures, lacerations, broken bones, burns (which could result from domestic, vehicular or industrial accidents), fatigue (resulting from sleep deprivation), hunger and thirst (possibly as a result of deprivation of food and water).
However stress in this context refers to the state of unease experienced as a direct consequence of our modern lifestyle in this present fast paced world. Consequently we always feel tired, run down and overwhelmed not to talk of being buffeted by aches and pains.
Mental Stress: This occurs when we have a sensation of being overwhelmed so much so that our minds and thinking faculties are confused, cluttered and disoriented. It can get so acute that even the simplest mental exertion seems like an uphill task. It can reflect in forgetfulness, inattention to detail as well as an inability to focus one’s thoughts on the task at hand.
Emotional Stress: This is a state or condition in which our feelings or emotions manifest erratically. It could result in cases of mood swings, fits of rage, extreme depression, low self-esteem and general irritability.
What causes stress & what is the solution?
Causes of stress: This could be attributable to factors like insufficient sleep or rest, inadequate or insufficient relaxation, hunger, thirst, an overloaded schedule of activities, lack of exercise and a wrong diet.
Solution: The solution to the problem of stress is simple: find out and isolate the causes of stress and then eliminate them. Basically, this must be achieved by a change of lifestyle.
Relaxation
Relaxation: Probably no other factor determines the degree of stress we allow into our lives than relaxation.
Relaxation can be defined as a process or state of being in which a person consciously takes action or engages in activities that result in a state of being calm, rested , focused and at peace, both within and without, internally and externally, at peace with oneself and at peace with the world. This can be achieved by engaging in one or more of the following activities: taking a vacation, going away from work or the home environment, playing games or sports that physically exert the body e.g. swimming, jogging, bicycling; taking time to learn a new skill like playing the piano/organ, learning to ski, singing with groups in a church or club environment, reading a book or novel, going to the cinema to watch movies, going fishing and playing with children.
Stress is a potential killer and could lead to hypertension or heart attacks, which could impair our daily activities, shorten our lifespan and ultimately lead to premature aging and death.
Relaxation on the other hand promotes health and general well-being, retards aging and tends to make one live longer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, some form of stress is practically unavoidable in our lives. The critical issue is what we must do to mitigate the negative impact of stress in our daily lives.