Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger, whether it’s real or imagined, the body’s defences kick into an automatic process known as the ‘fight-or-flight’ reaction, or the stress response. This is the body’s way of protecting you. When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations it can save your life, giving you extra strength to defend yourself, for example to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. Beyond a certain point however stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health resulting in anxiety, depression, low motivation, addiction, strained relationships, sexual difficulties, and an overall reduction in quality of life.
Symptoms of Stress
If you have been experiencing any of the following symptoms you could be suffering from stress:
- Constipation/diarrhoea/IBS,
- Breathlessness
- Feeling sick or dizzy
- Headaches
- Constant tiredness
- Fainting spells
- Chest pains
- Sleeping problems
- Excessive sweating
- Food cravings
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Pins and needles
- Lack of appetite
- High blood pressure
- Memory Problems
Long–term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems and burnout.
As well as exploring possible causes of stress, Psychotherapy or Intuitive Soul work may help you to manage your feelings by developing strategies to take control of your life and to learn to rest and relax more effectively. Reiki may assist in this process by promoting a deep sense of relaxation and releasing tension and blocked emotions from the past.
*If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms on a regular basis remember you could be stressed. It is important to visit your G.P. Twelve million adults see their GP with mental health problems each year, much of which is stress related