Do You Recognize these
Symptoms of Stress?
Behavioural – Drinking too much, eating too much or too little, fidgeting, fist clenching, talking too fast or too loud.
Emotional – Anger, defensiveness, depression, irrationality, listlessness, mood swings, worry.
Mental – Confusion, memory problems, poor concentration, racing thoughts, vivid dreams.
Physical – Cold hands and feet, grinding teeth, headache, heart palpitations, increased sweating, indigestion, itching, loss of libido, sore neck, rapid breathing, tense muscles, weight loss or gain.
Some Essential Coping Skills...
We all cope with stress in different ways – some of us far more effectively than others. To shed some light on which coping skills blunted the health effects of stress most reliably, University of Chicago researchers followed a group of business executives for eight years as they faced the ups and downs of running a company. Those who stayed healthiest shared these traits:
1. They didn’t distort problems. They viewed the curve balls in life as challenges and opportunities rather than threats to be feared.
2. They reached out to others. Each set aside time for projects they felt were meaningful – for instance, ones involving community.
3. They felt in control. They set realistic goals and, if needed, readjusted those goals to make them more attainable.
Quick Tip: Busy people often drown themselves in clutter. Such chaos can amplify stress, especially if important things keep vanishing. Spend time each day getting rid of superfluous stuff. As a rule, if you haven’t used it in a year, you don’t need it.
