Why stress happens and how to manage it?

Stress is a normal part of life and can even be beneficial at times. The way that we tolerate and choose to cope with stress is unique to each person. What one person finds stressful, another may find completely normal or only a minor inconvenience. Put very simply; stress is a response to real or perceived threats and challenges, which trigger a biological reaction in the body.

The ability to respond quickly to challenges or threats is part of what has helped humans survive. Some stress even comes from positive events. You may be very happy about the upcoming arrival of your new baby, but you may also be stressed about navigating all the details of caring for an infant.

What each person finds stressful differs from person to person. You may be completely aware of what is triggering stress in your life. For some, stress may be caused by health problems, relationship issues, important life changes, or financial difficulties.

When the stress response cycle is initiated, hormones flood the body that causes it to react quickly. These hormones also impact other body systems, and chronic stress may result in damages to different body systems and overall health.

Experiencing ongoing stress can damage overall health. The cardiovascular and respiratory systems are impacted because they are influenced by stress hormones released by the body in response to stress. Stress can make it harder to breathe, cause your heart to beat faster, and drive blood pressure upward.

The digestive system may be affected due to the rise in certain hormones during the stress response. Blood sugar can increase, and chronic spikes due to stress may even contribute to diabetes type 2—the chances of heartburn, diarrhea, and constipation increase with exposure to stress.

The immune system can become overtaxed if it is exposed to stress hormones on an ongoing basis. This results in weakened immunity. Other body systems that may be impacted by chronic stress are the reproductive system, muscular system, and central nervous system. Each may be damaged by ongoing stress.

While what causes your stress levels to rise may vary from person to person, and individual responses may vary, chronic stress can certainly be damaging to overall health. This makes coping with stress extremely important.

Identifying the sources of stress is important to learn how to manage stress. From this information, you can begin to determine if some things can be reduced or avoided to lower your stress levels. Some basic lifestyle changes are also very helpful with stress levels:

• Eating well
• Exercising regularly
• Sleeping well
• Learning relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, and progressive muscle relaxation

Working with a licensed counselor can help you pinpoint the causes of stress, understand how your thoughts and habits impact them, create a change plan, and provide you with a place to discuss your stressors.