What are the situations and circumstances most likely to cause stress in your life? Are you at risk from any of these? Here are the most common causes,
Work
According to a recent survey, 40% of workers described their jobs as very stressful. Because we all spend so much time at work, job-related stress can be very harmful.
You need to identify the circumstances at work that cause you the most stress and take action. You may say that's obvious, but many people make like an 'ostrich', trying hard to ignore the problem, because they don't want to face up to the consequences.
Action could mean talking to your boss or personnel manager to arrange a job transfer or change or responsibilities, or it could mean changing jobs or even careers.
Relationships
Often you don't choose your family and many of your relationships, and you don't always get on with everybody. Anger and emotions are often 'stored-up' until they explode.
Emotional stress can be relieved greatly by talking, either to a support group of friends or professional counsellors.
Pregnancy and sex
Pregnancy and sex is an emotive subject that can also cause much stress. Pregnant mothers worry about their unborn babies and spouses worry about many issues from performance in bed to infidelity and infertility.
If you suffer from these causes you will benefit by sweeping aside taboos and fears, talking openly about your problems to partner or spouse.
Yoga or other forms of bodywork, such as massage can be very effective here, especially for mothers-to-be.
Study and learning
Study and learning can cause much distress, weather it's professional exams and qualifications or college studies. Often the problem is time-management. There just are not enough hours in the day.
Being a student can be a difficult period for many of us but there is much you can do to counteract the stressful effects of studying and exams.
Plan ahead, especially when there is an exam at the end. Allow more time than you think you need. Create a quiet space for studying where you are not disturbed. Schedule your study time and don't allow it to be hijacked.
Health problems
Health problems can cause considerable stress and vice versa. A vicious cycle can be created. Which comes first? Or, more importantly what can you do to break the cycle?
So what illnesses and health problems are linked to stress?
Stress can affect heart disease and strokes, immune disorders, gastrointestinal problems, eating disorders and diabetes. It can cause tension, pain and insomnia, headaches, migraines and sexual dysfunction. It can also impair memory and concentration.
This is just a short selection!
Traumatic events
Serious accidents or traumatic events can be a source of stress, not just at the time of the event, but for many years after.
Traumatic events often causes 'Post Traumatic Stress Disorder', which is usually treated by professionals. However, many less traumatic events can be helped enormously with simple stress relievers and stress management techniques.
Children and teenagers
Children and teenagers can be a source of much stress. And as parents it can be a double bind. Their stress is causing your distress or it could be that you have difficult or unruly teenagers making your life much harder.
In particular, teenagers are often stressed by growing pains and learning to live in an adult world. As adults, problems that you take in your stride, can be a source of great anguish to them.
Talking to them, in a non-confrontational way, to discover the source of the problem can work. Babies don't come with manuals and we have to learn how to be good parents by experience. But there are many guides to being a good parent available on the Internet and bookstores.
Unhealthy lifestyle
Unhealthy lifestyles are the modern stressors. Drinking, smoking, drugs junk food and vegetating in front of the TV, all contribute to stress much more than you may realise.
Our bodies and minds are like machines. They need to be used to regularly in order to function in peak condition. We need to feed them with the correct nutrients, exercise them properly and not abuse them.
Understanding what causes you stress will help you greatly to take back control of your life. Start learning about stress and seek out solutions that strike a chord with you.
And it doesn't have to be medications or pills. There are many effective techniques and strategies that are completely natural and kind to you and your health.
Selecting the best combination of techniques, to either reduce or eliminate your stress problem, is really a personal choice.
Whatever you do, start your search today.
