What are the situations and circumstances most likely to cause
stress in your life? Are you at risk from any of these? Here are
the most common causes,
Work
According to a recent survey, 40% of workers described their
jobs as very stressful. Because we all spend so much time at
work, job-related stress can be very harmful.
You need to identify the circumstances at work that cause you
the most stress and take action. You may say that's obvious, but
many people make like an 'ostrich', trying hard to ignore the
problem, because they don't want to face up to the consequences.
Action could mean talking to your boss or personnel manager to
arrange a job transfer or change or responsibilities, or it
could mean changing jobs or even careers.
Relationships
Often you don't choose your family and many of your
relationships, and you don't always get on with everybody. Anger
and emotions are often 'stored-up' until they explode.
Emotional stress can be relieved greatly by talking, either to a
support group of friends or professional counsellors.
Pregnancy and sex
Pregnancy and sex is an emotive subject that can also cause much
stress. Pregnant mothers worry about their unborn babies and
spouses worry about many issues from performance in bed to
infidelity and infertility.
If you suffer from these causes you will benefit by sweeping
aside taboos and fears, talking openly about your problems to
partner or spouse.
Yoga or other forms of bodywork, such as massage can be very
effective here, especially for mothers-to-be.
Study and learning
Study and learning can cause much distress, weather it's
professional exams and qualifications or college studies. Often
the problem is time-management. There just are not enough hours
in the day.
Being a student can be a difficult period for many of us but
there is much you can do to counteract the stressful effects of
studying and exams.
Plan ahead, especially when there is an exam at the end. Allow
more time than you think you need. Create a quiet space for
studying where you are not disturbed. Schedule your study time
and don't allow it to be hijacked.
Health problems
Health problems can cause considerable stress and vice versa. A
vicious cycle can be created. Which comes first? Or, more
importantly what can you do to break the cycle?
So what illnesses and health problems are linked to stress?
Stress can affect heart disease and strokes, immune disorders,
gastrointestinal problems, eating disorders and diabetes. It can
cause tension, pain and insomnia, headaches, migraines and
sexual dysfunction. It can also impair memory and concentration.
This is just a short selection!
Traumatic events
Serious accidents or traumatic events can be a source of stress,
not just at the time of the event, but for many years after.
Traumatic events often causes 'Post Traumatic Stress Disorder',
which is usually treated by professionals. However, many less
traumatic events can be helped enormously with simple stress
relievers and stress management techniques.
Children and teenagers
Children and teenagers can be a source of much stress. And as
parents it can be a double bind. Their stress is causing your
distress or it could be that you have difficult or unruly
teenagers making your life much harder.
In particular, teenagers are often stressed by growing pains and
learning to live in an adult world. As adults, problems that you
take in your stride, can be a source of great anguish to them.
Talking to them, in a non-confrontational way, to discover the
source of the problem can work. Babies don't come with manuals
and we have to learn how to be good parents by experience. But
there are many guides to being a good parent available on the
Internet and bookstores.
Unhealthy lifestyle
Unhealthy lifestyles are the modern stressors. Drinking,
smoking, drugs junk food and vegetating in front of the TV, all
contribute to stress much more than you may realise.
Our bodies and minds are like machines. They need to be used to
regularly in order to function in peak condition. We need to
feed them with the correct nutrients, exercise them properly and
not abuse them.
Understanding what causes you stress will help you greatly to
take back control of your life. Start learning about stress and
seek out solutions that strike a chord with you.
And it doesn't have to be medications or pills. There are many
effective techniques and strategies that are completely natural
and kind to you and your health.
Selecting the best combination of techniques, to either reduce
or eliminate your stress problem, is really a personal choice.
Whatever you do, start your search today.
About the author:
The stress doctor provides advice, tips, tools and techniques
for beating your stress problems. You can get a free short
report "18 health problems linked to stress you should know
about" or subscribe to "Stress Buster Tips" at
http://www.howtobeatstress.com
