http://www.care2.com/greenliving/what-makes-you-get-frustrated-and-irritable-getting-real-about-stress.html
Frustrated and Irritable? Getting Real About Stress
Does your mother-in-law make you want to bite your nails? Does your work make you feel overwhelmed and unable to cope? What do you do when you just want to scream and stop the world?
Stress is a derivation of the Latin word meaning “to be drawn tight”–which is exactly what happens when too many bills come at once, or your breathing gets faster and more shallow.
A caveman out on a hunt or a soldier on the front line needs the stress response in his body in order to have the energy to fight; the anticipation of the life-or-death experience puts his entire physiology into a state of red alert. So from a positive perspective, stress enables us to meet challenges, to push ourselves into new areas of experience or understanding, through heightening awareness and focusing concentration.
All of this would be fine if we had a bear to hunt or a war to wage. However, the stress most of us are dealing with is not from life-or-death situations, but is the distress that arises from an accumulation of pressure from much smaller issues. And although each separate incident may appear benign, if our response becomes increasingly stressful and we are no longer able to maintain our equilibrium, then the body will put out the red alert. The stress response is activated when we are unable to adjust our behavior or deal creatively with demanding circumstances; we soon feel overwhelmed, like a steam cooker coming to full pressure. We are the only one who can turn down the heat, but unfortunately we usually feel powerless to do so.
When there is no animal to hunt or war to fight in which to release the energy accumulating inside us, where does it go? Is it difficult to believe that ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome are connected to high stress levels, that we might get constipation, diarrhea or lose our appetite? What happens to the urge to scream, to lash out, to find release from the tension? Is it surprising that marriages suffer, or that alcohol and food addiction is rising?
In the US, stress-related problems cost the economy up to 300 billion dollars per year, with 7,500 dollars per person lost per year to stress, whether through absenteeism or decreased productivity. According to the American Psychological Association and The American Institute of Stress, over 19 million Americans are affected by stress, 77 percent suffer from physical symptoms and 73 percent from emotional and psychological symptoms, and by one account. That’s a whole lot of stress, and it is on the rise.
Few of us like to think of ourselves as stressed, we prefer to think of stress as what happens to others, without realizing how susceptible we may be ourselves. The most comprehensive study of the causes of stress was done by Drs. Holmes and Rahe at the University of Washington. They based their findings on the level of adjustment required for different circumstances, as the inability to adequately adjust is most likely to stimulate the stress response. Their Social Readjustment Scale placed the death of a spouse as the most difficult circumstance to adapt to, followed by divorce or separation. In more recent studies, money problems and work/unemployment issues are being rated higher. To that list we must also add environmental stressors, such as pollution, traffic, noise, and increased population.
What must be remembered, however, is that as we all respond differently to circumstances, a divorce may be high on the list of stressors for one person but it may be a welcome relief to another. Our perception of the circumstances and how well we can cope are the vital factors. For although we may have little or no control over the circumstances or stressors we are dealing with, we do have control over our understanding of the situation, and over our response. Remember: we cannot stop the wind but we can adjust our sails. Although changing our circumstances certainly can help, it may be only temporary. Invariably, no matter where we go or what we do, the change that is the most effective is within ourselves.
In a relaxed state, we have access to far greater physical and psychological energy levels. That is why stress-management is fast becoming an integral part of most forward thinking businesses. The greatest lesson we are learning, both individually and collectively, is that we can work with our stress response and develop a higher level of adaptability, and that the results of such change have a far-reaching effect on every aspect of ourselves, each other and our world. We would love to hear your comments on how you have dealt with stress.
You can pre-order a copy of our book at: BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You and the World. It will be published NEXT WEEK!! Join us for a booksigning: Nov 3rd in Boulder CO; Nov 11th in Portland OR; Nov 13th in Seattle WA; Nov 16th in NYC; and Nov 17th in Springfield MA. More details at: www.EdandDebShapiro.com.
related stories
-
eddeb
(2 comments)
-
(4 comments)
-
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
7 comments
add your comment »My heart is open and love pours out to all of you and your kind comments. Thank you very much. We are all in this game of life together .... with all it's ups and downs .. joy laughter, pain and suffering. being human is challenging at times and knowing their are others out their helps.
Blessings,
Ed
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I have tried it all...yoga, meditation, healthy eating etc...there are certain family members though that cause me to tighten up after about 3 hours...I have learned my limits with toxic people and give them a little of myself, but not enough to make me sick; which is what I used to allow to happen. Great article and great comments. Thanks everyone :)
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Getting a good massage is a great stress relief. Emotional stress makes our muscles tense and sore, which in return leads to more emotional stress due to the pain and discomfort. A physical relaxation from massage and bodywork can release a huge bunch of emotional stress. Receiving regular massages will help you keep your stress levels down plus it's greatly beneficial for your health and aids you in avoiding injuries.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Stress will always be in our lives. What I have learned from my over 35 years of meditation is that it is how we react to the stress.I have never missed a day of meditation in 37 years and start every day sitting quietly and focusing on my higher part- my soul, which is the seat of peace. Quieting the mind and not focusing on the day - to day stressors gives the mind a break and helps mus to realize what is really important in life. After mediating for 15- 30 minutes every morning, My whole attitude changes. I am full -time teacher, I take care of my elderly and arthritic mother, I run a meditation Centre and I teach FREE meditation classes here in Montreal Canada. My capacity, I truly feel comes from my daily practice. Even take time to do deep breathing every morning will help. Focus on the positive and try to see the good in others. Take the time for your inner self and the peace you get will help you deal with the stress, and you might just find a whole new you. I hate to coin a cliche phrase, but 'meditation- I never leave home without it!'
Devaki Groulx Montreal Canada www.montrealmeditation.org
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Excellent article. However, the death of one's child has got to be the number one stressor. In fact, I think the the word "stress" is mild when describing that circumstance.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
In terms of releasing negative energy when you can't wage war, go for a walk. Really. Any sort of exercise will help de-stress, and walking doesn't require any special equipment or memberships or clothing. If you have a dog, they'll appreciate the extra time out!
Some suggest a cup of chamomile tea or yoga, which is fine if you have a chaos-free home (no dishes in the sink, pets/children/others wanting attention). Ditto a hot bath with epsom salts and EO lavender.
Hugs help a lot too. As does reading most things (primarily food oriented for me) or watching garbage (knock it if you choose, but I don't need something serious and thought provoking when all I want to be is entertained and/or taken to realm that is completely different from life as anyone on earth knows).
I still get headaches, frustration, etc. That's normal. But I can deal with things better and in a less destructive manner than popping 6 Advil or sitting in the bathroom crying because things seem overwhelming. If you do something--make it useful and positive, even if it's watching a big dumb action film.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Hi,
It was a very nice article! Just wanna say thank you for the information you have shared. Just continue writing this kind of post. I will be your loyal reader. Thanks again.
aminosäuren
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: