The Influences of Stress on the Psyche

Something about stress

We are more and more stressed and nervous, which can be seen in the tensions in the family, at work, or on the street.

Dr. Hans Selye, a world authority on stress, said that "stress is the salt and pepper of life." True, stress is part of our lives, but it becomes dangerous when it is "out of control." Insomnia, depression, irritability, and anxiety are just a few of the mental disorders that come with stress.

Some people are more vulnerable to stress, depending on the environment in which they grew up. For example, a person who was overprotected as a child by his parents, who always told him to be careful when crossing the street, to dress thickly in the winter so as not to catch a cold, or to go hiking in the mountains, may become mature, anxious and always worried.

Instead, the one who has been supported and determined by her parents to go through certain situations needs a greater amount of stress to react. This is one of the reasons why some things that we have a regular resistance to, for others, are a major stressor.

Stress factors are very variable. They can be mental (conflicts, professional or family dissatisfaction, fatigue, etc.), socio-cultural, or physical (pain, infectious conditions, etc.). We will detail in a few words two of the psychic stress factors: professional stress and fatigue.

Occupational stress ranks second in the hierarchy of occupational health problems.

According to a large number of studies, work stress affects about a third of employees. Women reach higher levels, but for both women and men, stress can be a problem in all sectors of activity and at all levels of an organization.

One of the most common causes is a lack of control over work. 35% of employees say they have nothing to say about their tasks and 55% complain that they do not influence working hours. Work monotony, tight deadlines (29% of staff say they work in these conditions), inappropriate treatment at work are other factors that cause work stress. Stress is a complex of emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and psychological reactions to harmful and adverse aspects of content, work organization, and the work environment.

Positive (healthy) stress stimulates employees and causes them to cope with the demands of work; the negative (excessive) cannot be controlled and can have adverse effects on health.

Stress affects health by causing the appearance of diseases of the body such as ischemic heart disease, mental disorders (anxiety, depression, suicide), musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, mental disorders: anxiety, depression, suicide.

Fatigue and drowsiness are the results of perpetuating the waking state during biologically scheduled periods of sleep, prolonged insomnia, and the systematic reduction of sleep hours.

It is undeniable that such situations lead to a decrease in people's level of performance. Even a moderate decrease in the duration of sleep for short periods (about two hours a night, over a week) accumulates and manifests itself in an irresistible tendency to fall asleep during inappropriate or potentially dangerous situations.

However, our attitude towards stress does not match the statistics. Women feel more acutely these sources of stress, they are more fragile, hence the need to reduce these negative effects by various means.

They have to be allocated a few hours a week only for their person, during which time they can visit the hairdresser, they can benefit from a massage session, they can go to the gym to do a little exercise, etc. Last but not least, we must maximize the results of these remedies by appealing to the miraculous effects of the plants by using a nutritional supplement.

Steps to control stress

Regardless of the type of stress that occurs in our lives, it is important to successfully deal with stressful situations and not be overwhelmed or overwhelmed by them.

Recognize the danger

The warning signs of stress are not a few: depression, loss of temper even for minor things, sleep disorders, tendency to smoke more and consume alcohol, frequent crying, mental tension, inability to concentrate, problems emotional depression. Stress can also lead to physical disorders, especially those known as "psychosomatic disorders."

Be responsible

Don't expect solutions from those around you, even if they can help you. The initiative to fight stress belongs to you. It's about your life and the fact that no one can fight for you.

Discover your inner resources

Analyze, as honestly as possible, your strengths and weaknesses, to have a clearer picture of them.

Look positive

All the problems that arise have solutions, even if at the moment they are not at hand. And what's more, there is always an effective way to overcome any obstacle.

Be realistic and flexible

Set some achievable goals. You have to understand that many of the situations that have arisen can only be indirectly influenced. Be prepared to make mistakes sometimes. It is important to analyze the problem and decide on the first step you will take. Do not abandon a solution if it did not work first. I'll try again.

Maintain your physical health

A healthy lifestyle can increase your resistance to stress. Regular meals, sleeping hours, and avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and medications are just a few "weapons" in the fight against stress. Exercise is also very important because it relieves stress.

Relax

Relaxation can sometimes be the only alternative you have at hand in the fight against stress. When you get home, the tension you have been under all day must go away. Read, listen to music, resort to a herbal bath… Don't forget to go on vacation!

If the stress has caught you in a trap, seek the help of mental health professional. And if you are afraid of what those around you will think about you, find out that your help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Mental disorder is a general term used for a group of diseases that disrupt the functioning of the brain. Statistics show that both in the world and in our country, one in three adults suffers, for some time, from a mental disorder.