Everyone experiences the anxiety known as stress and knows the “wear and tear” it can have, emotionally and physically. It is important to remember that stress isn’t so much caused by different events or factors; rather, how we react to them. Stress can result from a multitude of internal and external factors like relationships, work, family, and our own behavior.
Stress can be positive and negative. For some people, stress can cause a new awareness and compel you into action and provide you with a new angle or light on a situation. However, when stress is negative, it can cause a multitude of dejected feelings and can lead to a number of health problems. Stress can cause you to experience psychological and physical symptoms such as:
- Memory problems
- Upset stomach
- Rashes
- Difficulty sleeping
- Fatigue
- Anger, frustration, uneasiness
- Difficulty with decisions
- Headaches
- Loss of objectivity
These things can lead to very serious physical and psychological conditions so it is very important to learn how to manage your stress.
An excerpt from the article “Managing Stress” by Marilynn Allemann, LCSW, CPC