Most of us have an idea what it feels like to be 'stressed out'. This is usually a temporary state and we soon find time and space to 'chill out' and reduce the stress. We know by the natural biofeedback mechanism of our mind/body that this type of stress is harmful to us. The problem is that we need a certain amount of 'good' stress in our lives or we would find it unacceptable which is a cause of 'bad' stress. Good stress includes; the physical and mental exercise required for a normal healthy mind and body, sex, elation, competition, and many others.
When we are tired, frightened, tense, anxious, angry, depressed we are under 'bad' stress. Few aspects of life are stress free - and contrary to the idea that a stressed life style is a modern phenomena - it has always been an intrinsic part of human experience.
Stress can be described as 'the wear and tear on our whole being due to our inability to cope with the continually changing environment'. People may think that driving in the rush hour or travelling on an overcrowded train is stress. No, these are stress triggers that cause an internal body reaction - 'the fight or flight response' - an instinctive reaction to save us when in potentially life-threatening situations. Massive changes occur in the brain and body due to hormones, (adrenaline being the most well known), changing physiological reactions. The blood drains from non-essential organs and is diverted into the skeletal muscles to aid us to fight or run for our life, the pupils dilate to let more light in for better vision, the breathing rate increase to supply more oxygen to the blood, which is pumped round by a now rapidly beating heart, which cause blood pressure to rise significantly, the whole lot being fuelled by a massive release of glycogen and fats into the blood stream. Then you just sit in the traffic doing damage to yourself as you can't fight or run, but now you are primed for action so you get 'more stressed'. Sound familiar?
It is only when real or more frequently perceived changes overwhelm the mind and body's ability to cope, that stress becomes harmful - distress. This leaves us prone to unwanted mental/emotional and physical illness and breakdown.
If a person is under prolonged and unrelenting stress it will have a disastrous effect on their physical, emotional and spiritual health. It has been estimated that stress is the most common cause of illness in modern society, and some GP's believe that it is the underlying root of up to 80% of the problems they treat. The most common stress related illnesses are;- digestive problems/gastric ulcers, insomnia, migraines, depression, frequent coughs/colds/flu., respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, obesity/eating disorders, cancer and over indulgence in smoking and alcohol/drugs.
There is no single level of stress that can be applied to everyone. What you find enjoyable I may find to be very stressful, e.g., you may get great stress relief from potholing, I would find it very stressful. 'One man's pleasure is another man's stress". Even things that everyone agrees are stressful people cope differently - some experiencing little stress and others may be overwhelmed by it. Below are the main areas, which most people mention when talking about stress. The majority of people usually blame external factors for their stress but many of them eventually realise their stress is internally generated stress.
Stressors
External - the physical environment, social interaction, major life events, daily hassles and social/organisational constraints.
Internal - lifestyle choices, negative self-talk, mind-traps, (unrealistic goals/expectations of yourself), personality traits.
What is Anger?
We all know what anger is, we've all felt it, whether as fleeting annoyance or as fully fledged rage. Anger has no bounds when it comes to gender – both men and women suffer from its fallout.
Anger is a completely normal and should be a healthy human emotion. However, when it gets out of control and becomes destructive, it usually leads to problems - at work, in your personal relationships and in the overall quality of your life. Anger can make you feel as though you're at the mercy of an unpredictable and powerful emotion.
Anger is an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage. Like other emotions, it is accompanied by physiological and biological changes; when you get angry, your heart rate and blood pressure go up, and so does the level of your energy hormones, adrenalin and noradrenalin.
Anger can be caused by external or internal events. You could be angry at a specific person (such as a co-worker or supervisor) or event (a traffic jam, a cancelled flight), or your anger could be caused by worrying or brooding about your personal problems. Memories of traumatic or enraging events can also trigger angry feelings.
Expressing Anger
The instinctive, natural way to express anger is to respond aggressively. Anger is a natural, adaptive response to threats; it inspires powerful, often aggressive, feelings and behaviours that allow us to fight and defend ourselves when we are attacked. A certain amount of anger, therefore, is necessary to our survival.
On the other hand, we can't physically lash out at every person or object that irritates or annoys us. Laws, social norms, and common sense place limits on how far we should let our anger take us.
What happens during a consultation?
I will take a detailed lifestyle and dietary profile, along with full medical history - personal and family. You may have your blood pressure taken and other examinations may be required. After this initial process I may suggest a urine and cholesterol blood test, these are not obligatory, as they carry small additional charges.
Stress and Anger Management Consultant - Richard Wain
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