Managing Stress

Managing stress is a lifestyle. It is something that everyone will endure each day at some point whether they plan for it or not. People need to recognize the stressors, which is the potential to cause a stress reaction that are in their lives, and learn how to control it; so that it won’t cause a problem for them.
Stress is not always a bad thing. There is good stress called ‘eustess’, and bad stress called ‘distress’. Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset the balance in your life in some way. When danger is sensed – whether it’s real or imagined – the body's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction, or the stress response. The stress response is the body’s way of protecting us. When working properly, it helps us stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations, stress can save our lives by giving us the extra strength to defend ourselves, for example, slamming on the brakes to avoid an accident.
Responses to stress can be physical and emotional, such as a headache; such as fear or sadness; and mental, such as increased anxiety. These physical changes increase our strength and stamina, speed our reaction time, and enhance our focus – preparing us to either fight or flee from the danger at hand. If we cannot return to a relaxed state, then the stress becomes negative. The changes in our bodies (increased heart rate, higher blood pressure and muscle tension) start to take their toll, often leading to mental and physical exhaustion and illness. Too much stress can cause problems and affect our health, productivity, relationships, and the quality of our lives
There are many different ways to manage stress. Basically, it's best to eliminate as many stressors, and find practical and emotional ways to better handle the stressors that are left. Stress can be managed by adopting a healthy lifestyle such as: exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet,