| If you have ever suffered from a physical or | | | | from digestive organ and reproductive organ because |
| emotional symptom that was related to the stress in | | | | for survival it becomes a low priority to digest food |
| your life, you will want to know how you can | | | | or keep the species alive if you are threatened. |
| minimize these symptoms. Control begins with | | | | Symptoms that can be associated with this stress |
| awareness and knowing how your habitual response | | | | response might include: high blood pressure, cold |
| to stress leads to your symptoms. Any of your | | | | hands and feet, upset stomach, migraine headaches, |
| physical systems that react to stress can be | | | | pre-ulcerous/ulcerous conditions, increased colitis, |
| controlled. Begin the process for developing control | | | | sometimes constipation, and 70% of sexual |
| by understanding how your body responds to | | | | dysfunction in both men and women can be linked to |
| stress.The primitive survival mechanism known as the | | | | this stress response.7. All of your senses are |
| "Fight/Flight" response is built in to every human. It | | | | heightened are survival vigilance. You are more |
| responds to fear/danger from everything from life | | | | sensitive to noise (ringing telephones or door bells), to |
| threatening situations to the alarm going off in the | | | | light, to smells, even to increased sensitivity to touch. |
| morning. Every human has a habitual response to | | | | Your neo-cortex (the thinking part of your new |
| stress that is either learned or genetically implanted. | | | | brain) shuts down and the survival mechanisms in the |
| In a real life or death situation almost all of this | | | | middle and lower more primitive parts of the brain |
| response will be trigger by survival to help you to | | | | take over, so you react to things and do not think |
| fight off or flee this danger.Since awareness is half | | | | things through as well. Basic emotions: fear, anger, |
| the battle in controlling stress, you must learn to be | | | | sadness, and joy (nervous laughter) take over from |
| aware of how you respond to stress. Remember, | | | | complicated, sophisticated higher function emotions. |
| you have a unique response. It may include:1. | | | | Symptoms that can be associated with this stress |
| Increased heart rate. This pumps blood around the | | | | response might include: emotional irritability, substance |
| body to get oxygen and sugars to the cells that you | | | | abuse to escape stress through self-medication, |
| will need to use to survive. Symptoms that can be | | | | anxiety, depression, poor impulse control, poor |
| associated with this stress response might include: | | | | problem solving and reduced communication abilities8. |
| Rapid or irregular heartbeats2. Breathing usually | | | | You perspire/sweat to cool the body's increased |
| becomes more rapid. To get more oxygen into the | | | | metabolism down. Symptoms that can be associated |
| body. Symptoms that can be associated with this | | | | with this stress response might include: hyperhidrosis |
| stress response might include: hyperventilation and | | | | (which can lead to dehydration due to over |
| some forms of asthma3. Stress hormones are | | | | sweating)9. Imbalances in normal hormone levels. |
| released. Adrenaline, also called epinephrine, is | | | | Longer term, unresolved stress can affect the |
| released by the adrenal glands. This hormone helps to | | | | immune system which is normally there to fight off |
| maintain increased heart rates and will tell the liver to | | | | infections and promote healing. Symptoms that can |
| release stored sugar for energy to the body. Other | | | | be associated with this stress response might include: |
| stress hormones do other thing. Noradrenaline is | | | | frequent colds or flu's, infections, cancer or tumor |
| associated with anger and will raise blood pressure | | | | development, increased allergic responses, |
| for most people. Symptoms that can be associated | | | | auto-immune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, |
| with this stress response might include: high blood | | | | scleroderma)Everyone holds their tension in one or |
| pressure, panic or anxiety4. Blood pressure can go up. | | | | more of these systems. You need to identify which |
| Triggered by released stress hormones. Symptoms | | | | systems respond when you get stressed and then |
| that can be associated with this stress response | | | | learn to release this physical tension. It takes time |
| might include: high blood pressure5. Muscles that you | | | | and motivated practice to learn to let go but the |
| would use to fight or flee often become very tight | | | | results in enhanced quality of life and increased |
| until released by relaxation, massage, stretching, or | | | | productivity are worth the effort.If you would like |
| exercise. This is one of the most common responses | | | | coaching so you can develop a program to control |
| to stress and has lead to everyday expressions like: | | | | your response to stress please contact the Stress |
| "uptight", "Pain in the neck" (and other places.) | | | | Education Center (707) 795-2228 website: John |
| Symptoms that can be associated with this stress | | | | Mason, Ph.D. is the author of the best selling "Guide |
| response might include: tension headaches, tight jaw, | | | | to Stress Reduction." Since 1977, he has offered |
| neck/shoulder pain/tension, back pain, insomnia | | | | Executive Coaching and Training.Please visit the |
| (including trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep, or | | | | Stress Education Center's website at for articles, |
| not feeling rested after sleeping), fatigue, loss of | | | | stress management CD's, free ezine signup, and learn |
| concentration (distracted by muscle pain or tension), | | | | about the new telecourses that are available. If you |
| learning disabilities, poor communication (listening and | | | | would like information or a targeted proposal for |
| speaking)6. Changes in blood flow/circulation. Blood is | | | | training or coaching, please contact us at (707) |
| directed toward the brain and major muscles for | | | | 795-2228.If you are looking to promote your training |
| survival. Blood is directed away from surface of skin | | | | or coaching career, please investigate the Professional |
| in hands and feet (for survival a primitive response so | | | | Stress Management Training and Certification |
| you do not bleed to death if you get cut running | | | | Program for a secondary source of income or as |
| away or fighting for your life.) Blood is directed away | | | | career path. |