Stressed Out!

by Annette Snider, Reach Therapist Intern

STRESSED! This is a common theme for most people today. The art of multitasking and overcommitting pretty much assures us to have a stressful existence. So what do we really know about stress and how it affects us?  Each of us carries stress differently.  Stress can manifest as anxiety, or withdrawal, or even irritation.  Realizing what triggers your stress and how it manifests is the first step in beginning to manage your stress. What stresses you out may not be something that others consider to be stressful.  Understanding that we all handle and experience stress differently is a key point to remember. 

Is there such a thing as good stress? Well, stress is neither good nor bad but rather a matter of how we use it. Stress can be a motivator to get things finished or started! It can also be a survival tool directing us to safety if needed. Whether stress is good or bad typically is determined by the amount of stress you have going on in your life.

Managing stress can seem like an overwhelming task, just another thing to add to my list of “things to do.” Have you ever read an article on How to Reduce Your Stress and felt like the suggestions offered would stress you out even more if you did them? I have. The key to managing stress is to figure out what works best for you. It is important to figure out what are healthy ways for you to manage your stress. 

Stress is sneaky. Just because you may not be manifesting symptoms of stress doesn’t mean you are not stressed. If being highly stressed has become the norm for you, be aware that is it taking its toll on your mind and body. It is slowly wearing you out. Fatigue, forgetfulness, and loss of productivity are just some of the symptoms of long-term stress.  Building up your stress relief options and using them, will help you stock up your reserve for when highly stressful times occur. 

Remember, the key to reducing stress is finding what works for you and then incorporating into your life right now. Even little steps in the direction of stress reduction will give you a great return on you efforts. If you feel overwhelmed and stressed in your life and could use some help in untangling and prioritizing your life, Give Pfeiffer Institute Reach a call today! (919) 941-2900.