Essay Intro: Causes, Symptoms and Management of Stress

If there is a problem that everyone can relate to in this century, it is stress. The world is continuously assaulted with information that creates employment, relationship, family, and environmental stress. 

Managing stress can seem like a full-time occupation if we are going to remain healthy in this century.

What Is Stress?

Stress refers to a range of mental and physical responses to unexpected emotional or physical problems. It can also be referred to as anxiety or tension.

Every day, we are faced with numerous challenges. We must function in an unpredictable social, personal, and business environment.

Biologically, humans possess internal control systems that enable us to maintain homeostasis, or internal balance. It is well-known, however, that stress causes a disruption in homeostasis, which in turn leads to heightened apprehension and anxiety.

Types of stress

1. Societal Stress

This stress is visible in society as a whole, manifesting itself with a decline in general behavior. This can be seen by looking at how many people are unemployed in a specific area and how crime rates change unexpectedly. 

2. Personal Stress

These cause individuals to suffer where they lack both control and capability to operate on a reasonable level. This can be measured by the change in the eating pattern, constant headaches, backaches, cramps, and increased alcohol and drug consumption.

3. Organizational Stress

Job stress is the harmful physical and emotional reaction when the job requirements do not match the employee’s capacity, capacity, or needs. 

Job stress can lead to poor health (mental and physical) and even injury. Work environments that may lead to stress include managing style, work roles, interpersonal relationships, and tasks.

Symptoms of Stress

The symptoms of stress generally falls into one of these categories.

• Physical Symptoms
• Emotional Symptoms
• Behavioral Symptoms

Physical symptoms may include tension headaches, backaches, ulcers, or high blood pressure. Emotional reactions to prolonged stress include irritability, mood swings, depression, and anxiety.

Behavioral symptoms include:

• Changes in appetite.
• Changes in sleep patterns.
• Increases in alcohol or tobacco consumption.
• Impulsive gambling or shopping.

The causes of stress are multiple. Any adjustment required in life, whether related to a positive or negative event, is one of the most common sources of stress.

Marriage, divorce, childbirth, job promotion, and a change of residence are all stressful adjustments. Even relationships cause stress.

However, the most significant cause of stress is always the personal interpretation we place on an event or situation. The cost of stress impacts the individual, the family, the business, and society.

Statistics indicate that stress likely causes or exaggerates 50-80 percent of all physical illnesses.

For businesses, the stress of employees causes lost income due to lowered job productivity, increased absenteeism, and loss of employees. Families suffer when stress leads to irritability and frustration in dealing with family members.

Burnout

Burnout is a term frequently used in conjunction with job stress. Burnout refers to a progressive condition marked by emotional exhaustion, Lack of sense of personal fulfillment, and reduced job satisfaction and motivation. 

Persons who work under stringent management are in danger of burnout. Burnout could be due to the emotional drain of engaging with personal qualities such as perfectionism, excessive competition, or a tendency toward over achievement.

Burnout Symptoms are similar to generalized stress symptoms. Symptoms of job burnout include frustrations, low tolerance, a callous attitude toward people, reduced job efficiency, chronic fatigue, tension, and reduced self-esteem.

Stress Management

What can be done to protect oneself from the effects of stress? Although stress can’t always be avoided, learning how to manage it can reduce the risks of developing adverse health effects. 

The first successful way to manage stress is to be in tune with your body. Figure out first what is causing your stress, and find the best way to manage your stress.

Positive management techniques include meditation, deep breathing, muscle relaxation, healthy eating, exercise, a social support system, and getting enough sleep. However, one person’s stress-relief practices may not work for another. Here are other possible changes you can make:

1. Setting realistic goals

Setting realistic goals that can be accomplished provides a sense of fulfillment and personal success, which in turn, reduces stress.

2. Informal relaxation techniques

Informal relaxation methods such as reading and listening to music are also helpful stress management strategies. 

3. Support System

Having a caring support system, taking daily breaks from demanding work, finding a unique project, and delegating work can lessen job stress and burnout.

4. Self-reinforcement

The most powerful technique for managing any stressful situation is to learn positive self-talk techniques. Re-interpreting a problem as a challenge rather than a threat may be all it takes to reduce the stress level.

We can convince ourselves that we are in control and relaxed. This is called positive self-reinforcement. It helps to keep the tension manageable and can also serve as a helpful stress reduction strategy.

However, negative self-talk leads to increased stress, depression, fearfulness, and inability to cope. Talking to oneself positively increases self-esteem, bolsters self-confidence, and brings the situation back to a realistic level.

Conclusion

Remember, the detrimental impacts of stress are produced by how we understand and judge it.

 A moderate amount of stress, particularly positive, is healthy and stimulating. There are two aspects of dealing effectively with stress: dealing with the cause and dealing with the symptoms.

It is important not to overwhelm ourselves by trying to change too much at once. One has to start with some basic approaches to dealing with the symptoms of stress, and then move on to addressing the cause.

It is often better to deal with the symptoms of stress first, as this makes us feel healthier, more energetic, and more empowered.

Summary

Stress is a term from physics, meaning physical force or tension placed in an object. When our bodies and minds are overloaded with difficulties or work, we experience tension and stress. Stress can cause headaches, high blood pressure, sleep and eating patterns changes, anxiety, and depression.

Technology, which promises more free time, has increased the speed of life, stressing many people out. Lifestyle changes and new technology are linked to stress-related disorders like high blood pressure and heart disease.

Stress can arise at any age, although it most often affects persons aged 16-25 when they accept more responsibility for their lifestyle behavior.

New stress management techniques encourage optimal health with a healthy diet, exercise, and positive attitude.