STRESS STRESS What in the is happening?

By Dr. Umieca N. Hankton

Let's talk STRESS since April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress is the body's normal reaction to situations and events perceived as threatening or potentially threatening. Stress manifests differently from person to person and the symptoms may increase based on the frequency, intensity, and duration of the stress-inducing situation. Experiencing stress isn't problematic. Stress is necessary for our survival as it alerts us to danger. However, stress becomes troubling when it goes unmanaged and shifts stress to distress. There are varying types of stress: acute, episodic, and chronic. Acute stress lasts for a brief period of time. Usually, after an acute stressor ends, the mind and body return to a calm state relatively quickly. Episodic stress occurs when

Warning Signs Of Stress

one experiences acute stress frequently and typically resulting from stressful career demands, multiple life strains, or unresolved issues that appear to go away but return. Eventually, an accumulation of unmanaged episodic high-intensity stressors becomes chronic, lasting more prolonged periods, thus negatively impacting the body. Unmanaged chronic stress compromises one's physical and psychological health. What happens to your mind and body when you are stressed? How do you manage your life stressors to prevent stress from becoming distress? When was the last time you took PTO? If you struggle to answer these questions, now is a good time to stop and consider how stress impacts your body, emotions, thoughts, and actions?

Awareness of how stress impacts the body physically, psychologically, and behaviorally provides multiple opportunities to manage stress strategically. A commitment to managing stress daily is a form of self-care. As you review the stress management tips listed here, grab your calendar and decide how, when, and where you will practice these strategies. Successful stress management requires planning. While we all desire to live a stress-free life, the reality is that there is no such thing as stress-free; however, it is possible to stress less!