A New Perspective on Stress Symptoms

By Article Specialist

Do you often suffer from bouts of headaches, anxiety, and restlessness, shortness of breath, back and neck pains, feelings of insecurity, irritability, irregular bowel movement, exhaustion and skin problems for no apparent reason?

Many of us misinterpret these conditions as symptoms of illness rather than as a sign of stress. They are very easy to misinterpret as symptoms of illnesses rather than as indicators of stress because very few people admit (even to themselves) that they suffer from stress.

Most people are affected by stress without their knowledge, some more so than others. However, stress is not dangerous or fatal. In fact, we all have the capability to deal with stress: the body releases adrenaline into our nervous system which helps us to deal with stressful situations. There are people however who can not function under stress because of the lack of information on how to handle nerve-racking situations. Even medical science can not determine why there are people who can and cannot handle stress.

The inability to handle pressure can ultimately lead to health problems if allowed to go on because it affects anyone regardless of sex or age. However, for some reason women are more susceptible than men.Stress is the natural response of our body to an unfavorable situation and the symptoms of headaches, shortness of breath, skin itchiness are simply warning indicators we are getting affected by the situation. The unfavorable situation can be anything that we are having difficulties to cope with such as pressures from work deadlines, school assignments, financial difficulties or misunderstanding with a loved one. If we are successful in handling the stressor and have the presence of mind identify and resolve the situation, the symptoms go away. However, if we fail to cope with the situation then the symptoms persist and reappear every time we are in the exact same situation. This eventually develops into physical and/or emotional problems that prevent us from leading normal lives.

If not relieved, stress can affect and change a person's life in the workplace, at home or at school affecting relationships and performance in general. Stress therefore should be managed so that we can lead a normal and productive life.

We can not live without stress because, believe it or not, it is an integral part of our lives and makes us aware and alert to our environment. It is a signal to be aware of the environment or the situation which needs to be addressed. Learning to read these signals is what is necessary instead of taking medication to relieve ourselves of the symptoms!

Stress becomes a problem when it begins to affect our lives and relationships with people around us. Some people bloom under stress while others wither and fade but that is what gave life to the phrase grace under pressure!