Stress

High school is meant to prepare teenagers for the rigorous course work of college. By learning introductory classes in subjects such as history, trigonometry and biology, we are taught the foundations that are built upon in more advanced classes. Sociologists, however, would argue that high school comes with a hidden curriculum. This means that the actual experience of going to school may be able to teach life skills outside of textbooks and homework. Unfortunately, this can also be problematic. Besides having to deal with demanding coursework in AP and Honors classes, I also have to balance my time between three clubs, a sport, peer tutoring, and theater. As if that weren't enough, I have my obnoxious (but loveable) friends to deal with. And on top of that, there's dealing with siblings, peer pressure, getting ready for college and finding self-esteem. Needless to say, that's a whole lot.

http://www.emiratesosteoporosissociety.com/tag/how-to-reduce-stress/

As people undergo significant life changes, they may experience stress, a physiological and psychological response. Stressors are things in the environment, body, or thoughts that trigger this response, preparing our bodies for fight-or-flight to provide the energy needed to face the stressor. Nowadays, it is rare that we are confronted with the same challenges as an organism that lives in the wild, but stress still exists as an evolutionary adaptation to help us face everyday issues living in society, such as public speaking, a meeting with someone of higher stature, and job interviews.

Stress can be both a positive and negative thing. If we can constructively deal with the challenges before us, it is considered positive, such as when we increase our concentration before a test or presenation. Slight sweating and an increased heart rate are examples of acute stress, a good and short-term type of stress. As the body recovers from this kind of stress, it rewards itself with a sense of emotional achievement. However, if the stress is ongoing and leads to worsening health conditions, it is negative, because the body is not recovering from its altered state. This is chronic stress, caused by intense feelings of being overwhelmed or uncertain.

Like I mentioned earlier, stress has its effects on both the body and the mind. These changes are caused by the release of hormones in the hypothalamus of the brain called corticotropin-releasing hormones to the pituitary gland, which then releases ACTH into the bloodstream to activate the stress response. Adrenaline (a.k.a. epinephrine) is a major stress hormone released by the adrenal glands.

http://www.impactfactory.com/p/stress_management_skills_training_development/

Physical changes include: Muscle tension, headaches, back pains, ulcers, neck pains, upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, teeth grinding, insomnia, shaky hands, fatigue, heart disease, high blood pressure, heart burn, and a weakened immune system.

Changes in feeling and behavior inlude: Poor decision making, depression, fear, confusion, nerves, hostility, anger, worry, irritation and poor concentration.

The use of drugs and unhealthy foods are short-term relievers of stress which will ultimately accelerate the worsening of health. These agents also carry a risk of dependency, which may be another source of stress for a person. Exercise is a much more practical method used to alleviate stress, which is one reason why I am a strong advocate of physical activity. For a healthier and more long-term solution, it is necessary to identify what the stressors are in your life that are causing such significant changes. Then, you can begin to understand its physical and mental effects.

Stressors come in three forms: accidental hassles, major life changes and ongoing problems. Accidental hassles are temporary but inconvenient events, such as losing something important, having car problems or getting ticketed. Major life events are noteworthy things that occur during a lifetime, and can be positive (graduation, marriage, child bearing) or negative (divorce, unemployment, death). Ongoing problems are stressful situations such as an unhappy marriage, conflict with a relative or coworker, or accumulating debt.

http://www.new-oceans.co.uk/new/business/images/stress16.jpg

For situations that we have some control over, these methods may be useful for preventing stress:

- Avoid controllable stressors
- Plan major lifestyle changes
- Realize your limitation
- Prioritize
- Improve communication
- Share your throughts
- Develop a positive attitude
- Reward yourself
- Exercise
- Eat and sleep well

For inevitable situations, it may be more practical to utilize these methods to manage stress:

- Plan by visualizing expected events
- Think positively
- Imagine potential negative big events
- Relax with deep breathing
- Relax by clearing your mind
- Relax your muscles
- Relax with stretching and exerise
- Relax with massage therapy
- Ask for help
- Find professional help if needed

http://tweakfit.com/health-wellness/simple-deep-breathing-relaxation-exercises/