How to overcome stress I

Article presents methods to reduce stress. I want to emphasize, that it’s more important to find solutions to the problems than to suppress tension, which comes from stress. On the second thought, before taking any actions, it’s worth to calm down and have a “fresh” head, which can provide us with right decisions.

The length of article exceeded 1000, so I divided it into two parts. Next part is available here.

What is stress?

Stress is a biological term which refers to the consequences of the failure of a human or animal to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats to the organism, whether actual or imagined. The tension also can be evoked by negative factors, injuries, continuous rush and so on.

Stress or just a nervous tension plays an important role in our lives. It mobilizes energy of our body and prepares muscles for sudden responses. It’s a pity, that nowadays we normally don’t need to run from a big, white and angry bear. We simply need to beat some kind of every day problems and tension makes it even harder. While being under stress, brain cannot function under high level processing, because control of body is transmitted to more primitive brains, which can respond faster, but usually inadequate in these days world.

Human system isn’t supposed to be in the maximal level of mobilization for a long time. After some time form of stress changes. You could say that it becomes more gentle: there comes laziness, gloomy mood, no appetite, hardness to sleep.

Stress by itself is a defensive state of body for protecting us from difficulties. Small amount of stress allows us to work more efficient and faster. So, only continuous stress is a problem.

Sleep
Sleep is one of the two described methods, which is used before facing stressful situations. According to researches, a human having good sleep can solve problems more effectively. It means that he overcomes stress faster. Remember, that a short period of stress is beneficial, and only the long one becomes problem.

Also, individuals having a good rest have higher level of energy and more powerful immunity system. It makes human energy last longer even while being effected by physiological changes, caused by tension.

Thirdly, humans having enough sleep always are at a better mood, which reduces probability that the problem will cause stress for your body.

Usually, grown up individual needs 7-8 hours sleep. But it depends from environment, where you sleep. Light and noise increase the need for hours of sleep.

Friends and familiar objects
Recently, I listened to audio program of the famous psychoneuroimmunologist, named Nick Hall. There is described very interesting experiment about how stress affects monkeys. Stress level was measured by physiological factors, for example, how much more erythrocytes are in blood.

The monkey was closed in the cage, which was connected to electricity. After current was on, the level of stress was measured. It was assessed that if there was one more money in the den, which was well known by the tested one, than the level of stress reduces. If there is 12 monkeys familiar to the tested one, than level of stress was quite low in comparison with the original one. The most important factor is the familiarity of the monkeys, otherwise stress doesn’t get lower. Also, it works with familiar things.

I believe that it is why it works: while being in stress we encounter various fears, which forces us to search for safety. What is safety? It’s familiar places and conditions. Well, the conclusion is quite clear – you need to wrap up yourself with familiar things. Put photographs and symbols in your workplace. Often meet friends, even better to meet with many friends at once, because according to research, the more is better.

Other methods
Descriptions of alternative methods you can find in the next part of article, which is placed here.

September 8, 2009 · Povilas Panavas · No Comments
Tags: ,  · Posted in: Personal Development

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