Stress Management

Today, stress has reached epidemic proportions due to our fast-paced life-style and the
consequent excessive demands on our bodies. Although statistics indicate that between 75
percent and 90 percent of all visits to the doctor are for stress- and anxiety-related concerns,
many people do not seriously think about stress management until they are on the verge of a
burnout or have been affected by a stress-related illness.
Stress affects your physical and mental health. Chronic stress can increase your risk for gastric
ulcers, osteoporosis, and sexual dysfunction. It is linked to other physical illnesses including
hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and arthritis. Chronic stress can also impair the
immune system, leading to an increase in infections and worsening of skin conditions such as
eczema. Stress hormones have also been associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
substance abuse, and mood disorders, as well as anxiety.
Stress has a detrimental effect on memory and cognition, and this can lead to long-term
dysfunction due to its impact on the area of the brain involved in learning and memory (the
hippocampus). Stress is often associated with deficits in learning ability. It could cause
psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Stress management seminar can help you
enjoy a happier, healthier life and develop skills to manage and prevent excessive and chronic
stress.
In small doses, stress can help you perform under pressure. However, when stress
becomes constant and overwhelming, it can hamper effective communication by
disrupting your capacity to think clearly and creatively and act appropriately. When
you’re stressed, you’re more likely to misread other people, send confusing or off-
putting nonverbal signals, and lapse into unhealthy knee-jerk or reactive patterns of
behavior.
How many times have you felt stressed during a disagreement with your spouse,
kids, boss, friends, or coworkers and then said or done something you later
regretted? If you can quickly relieve stress and return to a calm state, you’ll not
only avoid such regrets, but in many cases you’ll also help to calm the other person
as well. It’s only when you’re in a calm, relaxed state that you’ll be able to know
whether the situation requires a response, or whether the other person’s signals
indicate it would be better to remain silent.
When stress strikes, you can’t always temper it by taking time out to meditate or go
for a run, especially if you’re in the middle of a meeting with your boss or an
argument with your spouse. By learning to quickly reduce stress in the moment, you
can safely face any strong emotions you’re experiencing, regulate your feelings, and
behave appropriately. When you know how to maintain a relaxed, energized state of
awareness—even when something upsetting happens—you can remain emotionally
available and engaged.