Depression and Stress

One of the greatest challenges we all face has to do with stress; it does not have to be with major traumas’ in life but with life in general, with the daily pressure that we so often face.

Doctors report that up to 90 percent of patients they see come with stress-related complaints. Science has shown that when we are stressed, we release certain hormones that can affect various organs in our bodies.

Over long periods of time, the organs can be weakened by these hormones, making them more susceptible to disease.

Stress for instance, can release adrenaline, which causes the heart to beat faster and more powerfully, leading to palpitations. some stress hormones cause  the blood vessel to constrict, causing hyper tension. Stress can induce shallow and rapid breathing, even hyper ventilation. stress can result in diversion of blood from the stomach, causing digestive problems.(who has not felt what fear ,anxiety and worry can do to the stomach?)

STRESS

Stress touches everyone. Demands at work, family crises, guilt, and uncertainty about the future, dissatisfaction with the past-these all are hard enough.

Optimism and hope often are crowded out of our lives by our busy schedules. We can become so focussed on things and work , even good and necessary activities and we loose out on how we can grow up in all aspects of our lives.

Researchers; Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H.Rahe developed the social readjustment rating scale, which lists life events with corresponding stress values for each: the death of spouse    --- 100, personal injury or illness--- 53,change in residence;etc.

A person accumulating 200 or more points at any given time runs 50 percent chance of becoming ill, some one accruing 300 or more will reach a point of crisis.

Moderate amount of stress are necessary to increase performance, but beyond a point, stress becomes a health hazard.

How to manage stress

1.       Bringing relief to others.

 Fundamentally being selfless. In majority of cases, the pressure brought about by work, relationships , money, etc., is self centred. Focusing on others (rather than on oneself ) is a good way to remove personal pressure.