The Effects Of Stress On The Body

Posted By Samantha Jones
Categoirzed Under: Stress Management
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by Samantha Jones

There are many different effects of stress on the body. The short term effects have been well documented and studied by biologists. The long term effects are harder to assess in scientific research because they can vary from person to person, but stress is much better understood now than it was a few decades ago.

Stress causes a set of physical responses collectively known as the “fight or flight″ response. The hormone adrenaline is released into our bodies in order to prepare us to escape from danger or fight off the threat. Our heart rate increases, respiration becomes more rapid, muscles tense and our senses become sharper. This is a response possessed by most animals.

How all of this works is that the hypothalamus gland is activated by stress. Our hormonal system cannot distinguish between different types of stress stimuli, but it does react differently depending on the perceived severity of the threat as well as whether not the threat is an imminent one.

The sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine glands receive a signal from the brain and then fill the body with the stress hormones. These hormones include adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine. These are our bodies’ equivalent of putting “all hands on deck”.

The heart rate goes up and more blood flows to the large muscle groups, preparing us for fighting or running away. The blood vessels nearest the skin retract to restrict bleeding if we are injured. Our blood sugar soars to quicken our reaction time and boost our energy levels.

During this time, our reproductive and digestive systems slow down, as does the flow of growth hormones and the immune system.

If we are facing a real physical threat, these autonomic responses are incredibly useful and can help us to survive a dangerous situation.

Most of the stressful situations we face do not have to do with facing off against predatory animals, however. Instead, these stimuli are more likely to be along the lines of deadlines at work or in other situations where fight or flight is usually not the best response.

When we have this response and do not have to actually respond in a “fight or flight″ fashion, then the physical effects linger. In many case, this lasts until the next stressful stimulus comes up.

As a result, a good number of us spend our lives in a near constant stressed out state ? which is not healthy for us. Our cardiovascular system can be overworked and our digestive systems underactive. Immune function can be compromised and the reproductive system working at a lower capacity. We can suffer from indigestion, migraines or even heart problems due to this heightened stress level.

The effects of stress on the body are harmful to our cardiovascular system and keep our immune system from doing its job properly ? it’s no mystery why people get sick so often these days!

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Relieve Pressure and Panic with Meditation

Posted By Stephen Jablonski
Categoirzed Under: Depression
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by Stephen Jablonski

A simple description of meditation would be to say it’s a technique we can use to focus our attention away from the random thoughts that fill our daily lives and onto the truly meaningful parts of our lives. Through meditation, one can achieve great tranquility. This tranquility is very useful to us as we fight against the stress, anxiety, and panic that face us every day.

Yet while most people have heard about meditation, a relative few have really tried it. This is mostly because meditation is perceived as a mysterious art. One that takes a great deal of time and dedication to master. So people are intimidated and never really try it because they think it’s too difficult. This is wrong thinking.

Meditation is actually a simple art to learn. To practice it you only need some time and a relatively quiet space. It requires nothing else really except your presence and attention. And after only one or two sessions, you can actually begin to experience its calming benefits.

To start out, I think it’s best to try to find some competent instruction somewhere. Look for an organized class. It’s always better to have a teacher who’s “been there” to help you avoid the wrong turns. Local community organizations like community colleges, churches, or organizations like the YMCA are great, low cost places to find some beginning instruction.

And don’t forget your library. You’ll find many titles about meditation at any well-stocked library. Books have the advantage of giving you great depth on the subject and they can also get you going rather fast. But their disadvantage is that they can only guide you so far and they can’t help you make corrections or changes.

Audio CDs and DVDs are an excellent way to get started with meditation. They provide more guidance by actually leading you into and through each meditation session. This gives you a more “full-bodied” experience and leads to a deeper practice and understanding which leads to more anxiety relief benefits.

Breathing meditations are the usual first meditations learned by beginners. These are easy to learn and they give you a quick understanding of what meditation feels like. Depending on your desire, you can move into more advanced forms of meditating like full-body meditations or conceptual or emotional meditations. The more time you spend in meditation, the more tranquility you feel.

The practice of meditation is a very old and studied art. It’s been around for 1,000’s of years because it yields real benefits. It’s a truly effective method for dealing with stress, anxiety, and even panic attacks. So I′d recommend that you give it a try. After all, it’s easy to do, doesn’t cost much, and it could mean a great difference in your life.

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Panic Attack Treatment Hints For You

Posted By Isaah Jordan
Categoirzed Under: Depression
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by Isaah Jordan

You may prevent yourself from the main causes for panic attack with below mentioned panic attack prevention tips. In reality, there are various types of panic attacks. Some last for a few days while some take a few hours.

Normally it is a sudden attack for many people. Oftentimes it takes hours before the symptoms dissipate. The duration is not so important. It is a sort of attack that no one wishes to face again.

You may learn how to control panic and anxiety, and live without the worry of it taking over your life. You shall follow these panic attack treatment tips to stop panic attacks when they hit:

- Be Proactive and Analyze Your Attacks

You must examine the reasons of your panic attacks, and then shift your mind frame just before you are faced with the trigger. Try to place yourself in a more comfortable atmosphere physically. This will let you prevent the trigger from having control of your reaction.

- Examine the Triggers of Your Panic Attacks

Seriously analyze what makes your panic to arise. Keep an individual diary, and jot them down.

- Drink Cool Water

Did you know that dehydration make your panic attack worse? You must drink superb quality water when you are in trouble. Make sure you drink a cold glass of water when you feel the beginning of a panic attack.

- Ask Support From Your Friends or Famil

Tell your panic attack triggers to someone close to you, and ask for their support. They will definitely be very helpful in calming you down.

- Purchase Joe Barrys Panic Away programme

Panic Away will tell you how to instantly end fearing another panic attack. It is an effective and verified panic attack treatment.

- Learn Breathing Techniques

Many panic attack sufferers do not breathe right. Frequently they over breathe when they have an attack. Practicing some breathing techniques can stimulate the part of your nervous system responsible for relaxation. You will feel naturally relaxed if you practice these techniques regularly.

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Panic Attack Remedies That Work

Posted By Jon Alexander
Categoirzed Under: Depression
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by Stephen Jablonski

Stopping a panic attack after it’s started is not an easy task. Mostly, you have to ride it out, stay calm, and lean on your experience. Certain drugs can provide immediate relief, but they usually have some severe side effects. So the question is, what types of panic attack remedies truly work? Here are some real ones that do.

First, there’s exercise? Countless studies have shown that regular exercise has a positive effect on the number and severity of panic attacks. It makes perfect sense too when you think about it. When we exercise, we feel better about ourselves. And when we feel better about ourselves we’re much more able to take on the challenges we face every day. So think about including exercise as a way of helping to control your anxiety.

Watch your caffeine and alcohol intake. These are drugs in their own right and they can have serious effects on your mood. Too much coffee for instance can put you right on the edge of a panic attack. Alcohol too can set your mood spinning. So be careful with these or any other substances that may adversely affect your mood.

Add some natural remedies to your daily diet. There are many non-drug substances available at health food stores that have calming and healing effects, especially herbal teas. Everyone’s heard about Chamomile’s sedative properties, but other teas like Lemon Balm and Passion Flower have calming effects as well. Find one that you enjoy and relax over a cup once a day.

Take the time to learn a relaxation technique or two. For instance, there are simple yoga breathing exercises you can learn and perform just about anywhere. And they can have an immediate calming effect. Or you can spend more time and take a course on meditation and learn how to use guided imagery as a tool to control your stress.

Look at your own life a little more carefully and try to expand on the things that you enjoy. For example, let’s say you love listening to music. How about making a weekly date with yourself to put on some headphones and listen to your favorite CDs for an hour or two? That not only gives you a space to avoid stress, but it gives you something to look forward to when you’re in the middle of a stressful encounter.

Don’t be afraid to talk to someone about what’s going on in your life. Share your worries and concerns. You can talk to a friend or you can talk to a professional. Either way, you’ll benefit by opening up and letting go of the stress. It acts as sort of a safety valve for your emotions.

The best panic attack remedy is the one that works for you. In order to discover what that is, you’re going to have to take an active role and do some homework. Some techniques will work better than others, but your experience with each will teach you something and bring you closer to a solution. Remember, if you stick with it, things will get better.

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Handling Adolescent Stress

Posted By Samantha Jones
Categoirzed Under: Stress Management
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by Samantha Jones

Everyone has a hard time in their teenage years to some extent. Adolescent stress is something which everyone experiences as a teenager. Many things can contribute to adolescent stress, such as the physical changes and hormonal shifts which are a natural part of puberty. Adolescents are also learning how to cope with their growing and changing bodies and emotions, even as they struggle with becoming adults and making important decisions for themselves. All of these factors can lead to adolescent stress.

The list which follows are some of the factors which can lead to adolescent stress:

- their parents separating or divorcing

- moving

- starting at a new school

- a death in the family

- conflict with peers, teachers or parents

- beginning or ending their first romantic relationships

- having sex for the first time

- family illness (physical or mental), alcoholism or other troubles

- financial problems in the family

- living in a dangerous neighborhood

- the physical changes to their bodies which accompany puberty

- pressure to achieve academically

- negative feelings and thoughts about themselves

Many of those would also cause stress in adults. However, adolescents often suffer even more because they have less control over their lives. They cannot choose where to live or who to live with, for example.

All adolescents experience stress, which they may display in the form of:

- irritability and mood swings

- anxiety, worrying

- withdrawal, avoiding other people

- the use of alcohol or drugs

- physical illness

There are methods which adolescents can use to control stress. Sіme give teens near-immediate relief from stress but others are a long term strategy to achieve stable hormonal levels and emotional balance.

- watch or read something that makes you laugh

- listen to relaxing music

- talk to friends or play with your pets

- get regular exercise

- eat a healthy diet which is rich in fresh vegetables and fruits

- avoid stimulants and other chemicals (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, sugar, tobacco, alcohol and drugs), especially when experiencing stress

- learn deep breathing and other relaxation techniques

- practice yoga, tai chi or meditation

- learn to be assertive (to say how you feel or ask for what you want in a way that is not threatening to others)

- if you feel overwhelmed by a problem, try breaking it down into more manageable parts and tackle them one at a time

- try to replace negative thoughts with positive ones such as affirmations

- do not indulge in imagining all the bad things that might happen

If you are experiencing a level of stress which is compromising your health or your quality of life, then you may find that stress management training can help. You′ll learn some valuable stress management techniques such as those listed above ? even to the point of eliminating stress as it arises!

Finally, do not feel bad if you get stressed from time to time. Remember, everybody does. The difference is only in how we deal with it. Adolescent stress does not have to take over your life.

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