Stress – The Silent Killer

Stress – The Silent Killer

“More smiling, less worrying. More compassion, less judgment. More blessed, less stressed. More love, less hate.”― Roy T. Bennett,

Modern Life has brought a new killer to the neighborhood. One that stalks silently. One that kills without warning – Stress or Tension. It destroys health and relationship.

Stress is a condition brought about by us. A few decades ago, stress pangs were unheard of. It is not as if stress is a modern phenomenon. Stress has existed as part of life. So how is it that this reaction has taken on this deadly form? One needs to understand what stress is before we reckon reasons for its current killer avatar.

Basically Stress is just “the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response”. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental and emotional responses. Stress is a normal part of life. You can experience stress from your environment, your body and your thoughts. Even positive life changes can produce stress. Especially if exposed abruptly.

Stress is meant to be a positive reaction, keeping us alert, motivated and ready to avoid danger. Stress becomes dangerous when it turns continuous without let or relaxation. The counter reaction to this is what causes the problems and is called distress.

Today stress that was meant to be a danger alert against attack from animals or other humans, has become part of you day to day existence. The need to over perform, especially with high returns at stake and the mind being preyed on for this purpose is the reason why stress has started killing. Add to that the use of tobacco and alcohol. Stress brings about many physical and mental changes life forgetfulness, emotional imbalances, reduction or increase of hypertension, irregular heartbeats, even skin problems. Some of these problems can turn deadly, even fatal.

It just takes one to recognize a few truths, to keep this villain at bay. Your life is not about your career or wealth. Your wealth and career are there to let you live a good and healthy life. You can only achieve so much however much you try. It may be a good idea to have clear idea of what you are capable of and in what time frame it can be done.

Some techniques experts employ to protect us from stress are

• Relaxation through deep breathing techniques, relaxation imagery, tension-relaxation contrasts, cue-controlled relaxation and biofeedback.
• Cognitive techniques that help you review your attitudes and values, restructure your thinking, set goals, use positive imagery, rehearse mentally and schedule effectively.
• Behavioral changes to better manage interpersonal situations and distress. You’ll learn to check your assumptions, share your expectations with others, be assertive, exercise and eat and drink sensibly.
• Relationship review to be able to look at past hurts, forgive, communicate feelings, listen and reward the people in your life.

Ultimately it is about understanding the very purpose of your life and being able to adapt accordingly. Wide open spaces that reflect the same in your mind may be the best place to sit and throw stress away.