Innergy Center for Health & Stress Management

ORIGINS OF STRESS

Stress can often originate from sources we hardly ever associate with it.

One stressful event leads to another and, if we don't control it, the domino effect kicks in. Even joyous events, such as a wedding, a job promotion, buying a new home, or the birth of a child, can cause much stress. You also might get stressed out if you cannot achieve a particular goal or satisfy a certain wish.
 

Stress also exists in tandem with the pressure you feel when you perceive that negative consequences are attached to your actions. For instance, you might feel pressured to maintain a certain level of performance at work or else risk getting fired. If you find yourself thinking in this way, you should stop and consider whether the threat is real or if you are just being too hard on yourself. You might be able to control and even eliminate this kind of stress from your life.

 

THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SIDES OF STRESS

POSITIVE:  Despite its bad reputation, stress is one of our bodies' best defense systems. When we sense danger-such as a car coming at us-our bodies release adrenaline and other chemicals that make us more alert, raise our blood pressure and increase our strength, speed and reaction time. This positive effect of stress can be harnessed for short term productivity goals.
 

NEGATIVE:  Exposure to stress on a long-term basis can be debilitating both physically and mentally. As we discussed before, under stress the body produces an increase in the hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline and corticosteroids. In the short-term these hormones produce tense muscles, queasiness and an increase in breathing and heart rates.

 

It is very important that we learn how to control stress.

I have good news and bad news about controlling stress.

The bad news is: We create our own stress. The good news is: We create our own stress.