It’s no secret that each of us has experienced a stressful moment or time in our lives. Although you may not like how stress makes you feel, MedlinePlus tells us that stress is normal. And we all handle stress differently.
Personally, I’ve dealt with stress in various areas of my life, such as:
- Relationships
- Work
- School
- Home life
- Parenting
- Grandparenting
- Shopping
- Driving
When I experience stress, I take a moment to withdraw from the situation and find my inner peace to de-stress myself. I can deal with whatever is going on after I’m calm and have had my alone time.
If I’m not allowed to do that, I experience mood swings or cry. I don’t do it on purpose. It’s the reaction my body has to stressful moments.
Over time, I’ve realized that I must immediately alert my family members who are with me that I’m experiencing stress so I don’t annoy or upset them with my response to the stressor.
Family is also who I turn to during stressful times.
I once worked for a terrible company that left me feeling stressed every day. I got so upset one day that I sat in my car and started to cry. How did I get through it? I called my mom right away. Thankfully, she was there for me!
So, What’s the Big Deal About Stress?
The Cleveland Clinic defines stress as the way your body and mind react when changes or challenges occur in your life. The expert also notes that stress is not always negative and could be a motivating factor for you.
You’ve already seen how I react to negative stressors. However, my reaction to a positive stressor, like having to pass exams and write lots of papers to earn my master’s degree, is very different.
While earning my graduate degree, the stress motivated me to work hard and interact with my peers using online systems. As a result of my response to the positive school stress, I graduated with a 4.0 GPA!
Cleveland Clinic further states that there are “physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms” that can occur during stress, like:
- Muscle aches
- Inability to sleep
- Fatigue
- Stomach issues
- Rising blood pressure
- Pain in chest
- Headaches
Problems arise when the body’s response to ongoing stress leads to medical conditions requiring the attention of a healthcare provider. I’ve known individuals with uncontrollable high blood pressure, panic attacks, and alcohol abuse that resulted from stress.
And let’s not forget that the entire family suffers when one member suffers. For instance:
- Stressed-out parents can’t care for their children
- Caregivers for older adults have difficulty caring for their loved ones when experiencing the physical or mental effects of ongoing stress
- Marriages where couples are dealing with long-term financial stressors sometimes end badly
- A business partnership could be severed due to excessive stress
The key is learning to manage your stress.
How Can I Manage My Stress?
The Mayo Clinic concludes that taking steps to manage your stress can have many health benefits. The expert offers several practices to help you do that, such as meditating, socializing with others, listening to music, and becoming physically active.
Here are 5 examples of stress-lowering exercises:
- Walking
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Dancing
- Gardening
If your stress is chronic, your doctor may prescribe anti-stress medication for you to take.
Also, participating in therapy sessions is another way to combat persistent stress. Your therapist can offer tips and tools for handling the causes of your stress.
If your stressors are family-related, group counseling could be recommended for the entire family.
How Does PTSD Fit into All This?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder aka PTSD is a severe form of stress. It’s a mental health condition that may require medication, as well as therapy.
When a person mentions PTSD most people think military or war. However, that’s only partially true.
SAMHSA tells us that PTSD could happen to anyone, at any age, who’s gone through a traumatic event. Victims of sexual violence and abuse and accident survivors, are examples of individuals who may experience PTSD.
Individuals with PTSD don’t always acknowledge that a problem exists until their lives and families are beginning to fall apart. It’s not uncommon for someone with PTSD to abuse substances to get relief from the symptoms of stress.
Some individuals with PTSD isolate themselves from everyone, including family members. People with PTSD are also at high risk for suicide.
We often hear news stories of tragic events that resulted from an adult experiencing trauma as a child and the PTSD symptoms manifesting in later years causing them to harm themselves or others.
Where Can I Get Help?
Treatment for PTSD and other stress disorders includes medication, therapy, or a combination of both for the person with the illness, and possibly group counseling for the family.
Are you dealing with normal stress? You can find tips in the article to help you learn to manage your stress. Also, check out the links for additional information about stress.
Are you experiencing chronic stress or PTSD? Please reach out to a healthcare provider immediately for advice and treatment for your condition and support for your family.
