Topic Overview
What happens when you are stressed?
is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used
to. When you are stressed, your body responds as though you are in danger. It
makes hormones that speed up your heart, make you breathe faster, and give you
a burst of energy. This is called the fight-or-flight
.
Some stress is normal
and even useful. Stress can help if you need to work hard or react quickly. For
example, it can help you win a race or finish an important job on time.
But if stress happens too often or lasts too long, it can have bad
effects. It can be linked to headaches, an upset stomach, back pain, and
trouble sleeping. It can weaken your
, making it harder to fight off disease.
If you already have a health problem, stress may make it worse. It can make you
moody, tense, or depressed. Your relationships may suffer, and you may not do
well at work or school.
What can you do about stress?
The good news is
that you can learn ways to manage stress. To get stress under control:
- Find out what is causing stress in your
life.
- Look for ways to reduce the amount of stress in your
life.
- Learn healthy ways to relieve stress or reduce its harmful
effects.
How do you measure your stress level?
Sometimes it
is clear where stress is coming from. You can count on stress during a major
life change such as the death of a loved one, getting married, or having a
baby. But other times it may not be so clear why you feel stressed.
It's important to figure out what causes stress for you. Everyone feels
and responds to stress differently. Keeping a stress journal may help. Get a
notebook, and write down when something makes you feel stressed. Then write how
you reacted and what you did to deal with the stress. Keeping a stress journal
can help you find out what is causing your stress and how much stress you feel.
Then you can take steps to reduce the stress or handle it better.
To find out how stressed you are right now, use this
Interactive Tool: What Is Your Stress Level?
How can you avoid stress?
Stress is a fact of life
for most people. You may not be able to get rid of stress, but you can look for
ways to lower it.