Monday, August 10, 2009

Emotional Stress Can Impact Health and Wellbeing.

By Christian Goodman

By definition, stress is the state of suspense or tension " roused emotions or muscles " that occur in reaction to an force, or stressor. Stress results from favorable and disagreeable activities and may effect the mind and/or the body. I've written about it many times.

I'm aware of the impact stress has on our physical and mental selves. Our mind and body have unique functions but they also work together. Any impact to one part of us can have an impact elsewhere.

Body afflictions can be caused by emotional stress; however, often a person does not even know that emotional stress is the culprit.

In your mind's eye see yourself walking down the road and a car comes out of nowhere headed straight for you. In that circumstance adrenaline, cortisal, and similar hormones are released in your body, which allow you to avert disaster and save your life.

Large muscle groups are prepared to spring to action and enable you to 'fight or fly' from the situation because blood is redirected to them from other parts of the body. Your heart accelerates and breathing increases to allow for the sudden activities.

By design our bodies react to stressors and we're grateful for it when we're in danger. Our bodies also react to stressors like an angry, yelling coworker or fellow driver that tailgates as we drive home.

Emotional stress results can be the same as the stress results caused by danger of bodily harm.

Occasional stress is harmless or even beneficial, it is chronic stress that can be problematic.

When we do not actually 'fight or fly', a build up occurs in our muscles. Possible effects of this build up include negative occurrences like shoulder, head or neck pain; TMJ (temporomandibular joint pain) brought on by bruxing (teeth grinding), heart pounding, and/or stomach pains, which can lead to ulcer.

Depression, irritability, and anxiety can be psychological and emotional outcomes of persistent stress that may accompany the side effects occurring in our bodies.

Since many of us do not exercise enough to relieve the muscle tensions that build up, larger problems may result and a cycle can be created where you're feeling 'on edge' all the time, something everyone understands.

Over the long term bad outcomes like coronary problems, stroke, or diabetic conditions result from the active and passive responses to ongoing tension and irritability. These responses may include alcohol or drug use to 'self medicate', over eating, obesity, sleeplessness, snoring and apnea.

Stress resulting from necessary activities: project deadlines, bills, car problems, or home repairs can be difficult or even impossible to avoid.

Dealing with stressors as they come up is the important thing; if you cannot it may be time to consult a trained professional. If you're unable to pinpoint and remove the stressor then a relaxation program that may include breathing and physical exercises is what I recommended.

Included on the right are links to my natural health programs. Any of them will help you deal with emotional stressors, as they have helped thousands of others. In particular I encourage you to try the Natural Blood Pressure Program.

El331002 - 14130

About the Author:

No comments: