The importance of understanding the negative effects of
stress on your health
Stress and tension are unfortunately both a part of our modern lifestyle and can affect almost everyone at some time in their life. Occasional stress is not necessarily a bad thing and can help one to perform at one's peak when the pressure is on. Chronic stress, however, leads to imbalance in our minds and bodies, with a potentially devastating effect on both health and feelings of well-being.
Chronic stress has a major impact on our psychological and physical health and has been shown to play a crucial role in the development of a range of diseases and disorders. Most commonly, increased production of stress hormones and muscle tension are linked to problems such as insomnia, depression, anxiety and panic attacks.
Prolonged or extreme stress has even been linked to a variety of physical ailments such as hypertension, headaches, arthritis, adrenal fatigue, weakened immune systems, cancer, infertility and many more. Stress can cause premature aging and a significant reduction in quality of life.
Below is one suggestion as a way to combating stress
You can try making a 'stress list'. Try keeping a diary over a few weeks or so, and list the times, places, and people that aggravate your stress levels. A pattern may emerge. Is it always the traffic on the way to work that sets things off to a bad start for the day? Perhaps it's the supermarket check-out, next door's dog, a work colleague, or something similar that may occur regularly and cause you stress.
Once you have identified any typical or regular causes of stress, two things may then help.
If you discuss this with a close friend or family member, it may help them and you to be aware of the reasons why you are feeling stressed. Simply talking it through may help.
Secondly, these situations can be used as 'cues' to relax. You can use simple relaxation techniques (see below) when a stressful situation occurs or is anticipated. For example, try doing neck stretching exercises when you are in that traffic jam rather than getting tense and stressed.
What else can I do to relieve stress?
The first step in dealing with chronic stress is to recognize your symptoms and decide to make changes to combat this negative force.
Address any factors in your lifestyle that cause you unnecessary stress and make changes where possible.
Exercise and physical activity is one of the best ways to beat stress and tension. Prioritize getting active in your daily life and reap the numerous rewards exercise will bring - for both your mental and physical well-being.
Manage your time effectively by prioritizing essential tasks and planning your activities and time each day.
Watch your diet - alcohol, caffeine, convenience foods high in sugar and fats and tobacco all put a strain on your body's ability to cope with stress. Try to eat a balanced diet and include plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein in order to gain optimum health for dealing with everyday stressors.
Music and guided relaxation has been proven to dramatically reduce the effects of stress on the
body. A web site devoted to relaxation music is listed below. This is an independent guide to relaxation CD’s http://www.calming.org/
Stress and tension are unfortunately both a part of our modern lifestyle and can affect almost everyone at some time in their life. Occasional stress is not necessarily a bad thing and can help one to perform at one's peak when the pressure is on. Chronic stress, however, leads to imbalance in our minds and bodies, with a potentially devastating effect on both health and feelings of well-being.
Chronic stress has a major impact on our psychological and physical health and has been shown to play a crucial role in the development of a range of diseases and disorders. Most commonly, increased production of stress hormones and muscle tension are linked to problems such as insomnia, depression, anxiety and panic attacks. 
Prolonged or extreme stress has even been linked to a variety of physical ailments such as hypertension, headaches, arthritis, adrenal fatigue, weakened immune systems, cancer, infertility and many more. Stress can cause premature aging and a significant reduction in quality of life. 
You can try making a 'stress list'. Try keeping a diary over a few weeks or so, and list the times, places, and people that aggravate your stress levels. A pattern may emerge. Is it always the traffic on the way to work that sets things off to a bad start for the day? Perhaps it's the supermarket check-out, next door's dog, a work colleague, or something similar that may occur regularly and cause you stress.
Secondly, these situations can be used as 'cues' to relax. You can use simple relaxation techniques (see below) when a stressful situation occurs or is anticipated. For example, try doing neck stretching exercises when you are in that traffic jam rather than getting tense and stressed.
Music and guided relaxation has been proven to dramatically reduce the effects of stress on the
body. A web site devoted to relaxation music is listed below. This is an independent guide to relaxation CD’s