STRESS AFFECTS OUR HEALTH
Be aware and do something about
it
We cannot escape from stress in our daily lives. The importance here is
how we handle and manage these stresses that we have handle and manage
these stresses that we have encountered or going to encounter in our personal,
financial, social, family and work life. To some people, stress is a necessity
of life and they thrive under the pressure or stress while others are
incapacitated by it. However, if we have an excess of stress coming at
us all at once or constantly, even the hardiest of person can crumble
over the time, sometimes without realising that stress in the long run
can cause stress-related or stress-induced illness or health problems
ilke ulcer, hypertension or heart disease.
Thomas Homes and Richard Rahe two researchers, found that negative events
like divorce, illness and financial problems are definetely stressors.
What was surprising was that they discovered that people also found positive
events like marriage, vacations and festive holidays to be stressful,
albeit of lower stress levels as compared to negative events. Try out
the following test as guide to gauge the levels of stress in an event
may be viewed differently by different people.
How Stressed Are You?
Tick
(Ö)
the relevant item or items listed (table 1) for each of the five factors
relating to situation sand/or events in your life, and total up to your
points.
TABLE 1
| No. |
FACTOR |
|
(Ö) |
Point |
| 1. |
PERSONAL |
Injury or illness |
|
53 |
| Outstanding achievement |
|
28 |
| Revision of habits |
|
24 |
| Change in creation |
|
19 |
| Change the religous activities |
|
19 |
| Change the sleep patterns |
|
16 |
| Change the eating habits |
|
15 |
| Vacation |
|
13 |
| 2. |
FINACIAL |
Financial State |
|
38 |
| Large mortgage or loan |
|
31 |
| Mortgage foreclose |
|
30 |
| Small mortgage or loan |
|
17 |
| 3. |
SOCIAL |
Detention in jail |
|
63
|
| Sexual Problems |
|
39 |
| Loss of a close friend |
|
37 |
| Start or end formal schooling |
|
26 |
| Major change in living conditions |
|
25 |
| Changing to a new school |
|
20 |
| Moving home |
|
20 |
| Festive holidays |
|
12 |
| Minor law violations |
|
11 |
| 4. |
FAMILY RELATED |
Death of a spouse |
|
100
|
| Divorce |
|
73
|
| Marital separation |
|
65
|
| Death of a close family member |
|
63
|
| Marriage |
|
50
|
| Marriage reconciliation |
|
45
|
| Heakth of the family |
|
44
|
| Additional of new family member |
|
44
|
| Pregnancy |
|
40
|
| Arguments with spouse |
|
35
|
| Son or daughter leaving home |
|
29
|
| In-law- truobles |
|
29
|
| Spouse starting or ending work |
|
26
|
| Family get-together |
|
15
|
| 5. |
WORK RELATED |
Being fired |
|
47
|
| Retirement |
|
45
|
| Major businee adjustment |
|
39
|
| Changing occupations |
|
36
|
| Big change in work responsibilities |
|
29 |
| Trouble with the boss |
|
23
|
| Big change in working conditions |
|
23
|
| TOTAL POINTS |
|
INTERPRETATION
Less than 150 points
You are experiencing few changes
and are less susceptible to stress-include health problems.
150-300 points
You have 50% chance of suffering
a stress-related illness in the next two years.
More than 300 points
You odds of suffering
a stress-induced health problem in the next two yeras incerases to about
80%.
If you think that you
have more stress than you can handle, do something about it, e.g., be
aware of exactly what is causing the stress - know thy enemy, think positivele,
exercise regularly and combine with a balanced diet as a helaty body equals
a healthy mind, learn and make time for relaxation, share your problems
or find alternative therapy like aromatherapy, and also accept that are
the some thins in life that cannot be changed.
'BE GOOD TO YOURSELF, YOU DESERVE IT'
Info extracted from The Health Digest,
Singapore.
