Stress
Everyone has experienced stress at some point of his/her life. Most of us associate stress with “pressure”. But stress is more than that. It is the body’s way of ensuring we are able to do what we need to do and as such, it can be something positive if we handle it well – and if we have the opportunity to rest afterwards.
APPOTEK can help with overcoming stress.
Causes
There is a nervous system in our body that is called the nonvoluntary, or autonomic nervous system. It controls basic body functions such as breathing, heartbeat and digestion. The autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system activates when we become stressed and this is the way our body deals with various stresses. When we rest, the parasympathetic nervous system is more active. In order to feel good, it is important for both these systems to be in balance.
Different things trigger stress in different people and some deal with stress more often than others. We handle short-term stress better than long-term stress, which can make us feel both physically and mentally ill.
Symptoms
When you have stress, the body reacts with physical symptoms:
- your muscles contract
- your blood pressure rises
- your heart beats faster
- you breathe faster
- you might feel nauseous
- you can have stomach pain
- you may sweat
Short-term stress
Gives you more energy and strength to help you to handle whatever stressful situation presents itself. Short-term stress is not dangerous, if you have the opportunity to rest afterwards.
Prolonged stress
If you have been stressed for a very long time with no opportunity to recover, there is a risk of fatigue, depression, lack of energy and desire. Prolonged stress may also generate feelings of inferiority and failure. You may even have physical symptoms, such as headache, pain in your body and increased susceptibility to infections. Other possible symptoms of long-term stress are:
- mood swings
- concentration difficulties
- problems with sleep
- fatigue despite rest
- increasing anxiety
If you get a chance to recover, eg rest or relaxation at work, you can break your stress pattern.
If you have no opportunity to recover, long-term stress can lead to diseases such as depression, fatigue or heart disease.
Prevention and protection
It is important to give yourself time to recover after stressful periods. Try to limit your screen time and schedule your everyday life to include healthy and restful activities. A healthy lifestyle with regular meals, exercise and good sleep habits also can help.
You can make a list of the things that make you feel stressed, to help you take control of your stress. Maybe there are things on the list that you can correct for yourself or things you can get help with. It can also show you where the stress originates.
Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, is an effective treatment method for reducing stress. Feel free to ask APPOTEK’s psychologists for help.
When to consult a doctor
If you feel severely stressed and have anxiety, heart palpitations or sleep problems, or if you feel that stress affects your work and everyday life, you should seek professional help. You can learn how to handle stress, but it is important to have a plan for recovery after stressful situations.
How APPOTEK can help
Our doctors and psychologists can offer you:
- consultations
- talk-therapy
- individual assessment and prescription of medicines if needed.
