HOW IS STRESS PRODUCED?

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It must be understood as a mental and stress state that can be physical, emotional or psychological, produced by extreme and challenging stimuli or demands that demand superior performance, to which we are not used to and to which we cannot give immediate answers either. not even with the resources we have at the time.

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Although it seems contradictory, stress is essential for life, since with the reaction that it generates in the body we can adapt to the demands of the environment, a series of organic alterations are generated by releasing a large number of stress hormones that include adrenaline and cortisol, which activate in the body that feeling of a state of emergency in the face of dangers, conflicts and demands that come from the work, family and social spheres, but which fatigue us mentally and physically when we do not know how to control it.

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HOW IS STRESS MANIFESTED?

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At the physical level:

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• Constant and prolonged physical fatigue

• Persistent headaches and muscle tension often located in the jaw, neck, and back

• Digestive disorders, irritable colon, there may be diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain and heartburn

• Weight loss or weight gain from eating too much or too little food

• High levels of tension that can lead to coronary disorders

• Cellular wear and aging

• Skin diseases related to outbreaks of psoriasis or dermatitis occur

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At the psychological level:

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• Distress, nervousness, and increased anxiety

• Lack of energy and concentration, with a feeling of mental dullness and difficulty making decisions

• memory problems

• Mental fatigue

• Frequent irritability with outbursts of anger

• Sleep disturbances, Insomnia

• Food alterations

• Abuse of alcohol or tobacco intake

• Nail biting (onychophagia)

• Teeth grinding (bruxism)

• sexual and reproductive problems

• Development or increase in nervous tics

• Social isolation

 

HOW CAN YOU MANAGE STRESS?

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An effective way is practicing physical exercise routines, with this, we allow the body to release tension and accumulated energy.

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It is important to maintain a balanced diet and regular hydration, limiting caffeine that aggravates stress and anxiety.

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Practicing meditation, it is advisable to train in mindfulness, yoga or tai chi that contribute to relaxation by generating a deep calm that is accompanied by breathing exercises, it also facilitates adequate levels of blood pressure along with irregular heart rate.

 

There are also relaxing massages whose benefits could facilitate the reduction of those high levels of stress. Finally, I suggest organizing and planning daily activities, the idea is not to improvise, nor leave a pending task or activity for the last minute.

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Spending time with family and friends, as well as setting aside another space for hobbies, like reading a book of interest or listening to music.​

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And above all, keep a sense of humor.

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WHAT IS BURNOUT SYNDROME?

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Also known in Spanish as "work burnout syndrome" and  "care work stress syndrome". This term has its genesis due to the frequent work stress that affects senior executives, people who have direct contact with patients, clients, students or other occupations and whose work demands exceed the ability of that professional to act and adapt.

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Its clinical picture presents the following main symptoms:

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• Depersonalization or development of negative feelings, with attitudes and emotions accompanied by cynicism towards the people in their work, includes affective and dehumanized hardening which in turn leads them to be blamed for the immediate problems of those they serve.

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• Emotional exhaustion due to a depletion of energy, due to the daily contact that must be maintained with people and the demands of their work.

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• Lack of self-fulfilment at work, showing attitudes of dissatisfaction with oneself and dissatisfaction with the results of their work and for which they tend to evaluate it negatively.

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WHAT IS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS?

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It is triggered by a frightening or highly impressionable situation that has been witnessed or observed by a person, the signs are the same as common stress and for its differential diagnosis you must last more than four weeks.

 

The episode that occurred could have been life-threatening, either due to a war situation, a natural or catastrophic disaster, armed robbery, physical abuse, sexual assault, car accident, among others.

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The course of this condition is variable, although it often happens that there are cases of people who overcome it before six months after the event occurred, while others may take a little longer.

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People with this disorder have co-occurring conditions, such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse.

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To improve this state, psychotherapy, family or partner support, as well as self-care are suggested, which will be the best tools.

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It is important to keep in mind that if you find yourself in a similar situation and the stress overcomes your psychic defenses

 "DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME"

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