Stress
STRESS IS THE INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION OF FORCES WITHIN A
BODY THAT BALANCE AND REACT TO THE LOADS APPLIED TO IT.
STRESS IS A TENSOR QUANTITY WITH NINE TERMS, BUT WHICH
CAN BE DESCRIBED FULLY BY SIX TERMS DUE TO SYMMETRY.
SIMPLIFYING ASSUMPTIONS ARE OFTEN USED TO REPRESENT
STRESS AS A VECTOR FOR ENGINEERING CALCULATIONS.
EFFECTS OF STRESS
• Frequent headaches, jaw clenching or pain
• Gritting, grinding teeth
• Stuttering or stammering
• Tremors, trembling of lips, hands
• Neck ache, back pain, muscle spasms
• Light headedness, faintness, dizziness
• Ringing, buzzing or "popping sounds
• Frequent blushing, sweating
• Cold or sweaty hands, feet
• Dry mouth, problems swallowing
• Frequent colds, infections, herpes sores
• Rashes, itching, hives, "goose bumps"
• Unexplained or frequent "allergy" attacks
• Heartburn, stomach pain, nausea
• Excess belching, flatulence
What causes stress?
• pressure to perform at work, at school or in sports
• threats of physical violence
• money worries
• arguments
• family conflicts
• divorce
• bereavement
• unemployment
• moving house
• alcohol or drug abuse.
• Sometimes, there is no particular reason for developing stress, or it arises out of a
series of minor irritations.
• Pressure to perform at work, at school or in sports,
Threats of physical violence,
• Money worries,
• Family conflicts,
• Divorce.
Signs of Stress Overload
• anxiety or panic attacks
• a feeling of being constantly pressured, hassled,
and hurried
• irritability and moodiness
• physical symptoms, such as stomach problems,
headaches, or even chest pain
• allergic reactions, such as eczema or asthma
• problems sleeping
• drinking too much, smoking, overeating, or doing
drugs
• sadness or depression
Health Problems Linked to
Stress
• Heart attack
• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Obesity
• Eating disorders
• Substance abuse
• Ulcers
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Memory loss
• Autoimmune diseases (e.g. lupus)
• Insomnia
• Thyroid problems
• Infertility
Effects of stress on health
• Stress: It’s Worse Than You Think – This long, comprehensive
article covers in detail the physiological basis for stress and the
devastation it can cause in persons of all ages. (Psychology Today)
• Stress System Malfunction Could Lead to Serious, Life
Threatening Disease – Provides somewhat technical but still
readable explanations of how the chemistry of stress works and how
stress causes ill effects in the human body and brain. (National
Institutes of Health)
• Stress: Unhealthy response to the pressures of life – Offers
readable descriptions of how stress creates symptoms in different
systems in the body. (Mayo Clinic)
• Stress – Good discussion of stress and its symptoms and long-term
effects, with focus on cardiovascular health. (Mount Sinai School of
Medicine)
Teens can decrease stress with the following
behaviors and techniques:
• Exercise and eat regularly
• Avoid excess caffeine intake which can increase feelings of anxiety and
agitation
• Avoid illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco
• Learn relaxation exercises (abdominal breathing and muscle relaxation
techniques)
• Develop assertiveness training skills. For example, state feelings in polite
firm and not overly aggressive or passive ways: ("I feel angry when you
yell at me” "Please stop yelling.”)
• Rehearse and practice situations which cause stress. One example is
taking a speech class if talking in front of a class makes you anxious
• Learn practical coping skills. For example, break a large task into smaller,
more attainable tasks
• Decrease negative self talk: challenge negative thoughts about yourself
with alternative neutral or positive thoughts. "My life will never get better”
can be transformed into "I may
• Relax. It’s important to unwind. Each person has her own way to relax.
Some ways include deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and massage
therapy. If you can’t do these things, take a few minutes to sit, listen to
soothing music, or read a book.
• Make time for yourself. It’s important to care for yourself. Think of this as
an order from your doctor, so you don’t feel guilty! No matter how busy you
are, you can try to set aside at least 15 minutes each day in your schedule
to do something for yourself, like taking a bubble bath, going for a walk, or
calling a friend.
• Sleep. Sleeping is a great way to help both your body and mind. Your
stress could get worse if you don’t get enough sleep. You also can’t fight off
sickness as well when you sleep poorly. With enough sleep, you can tackle
your problems better and lower your risk for illness. Try to get seven to nine
hours of sleep every night.
• Eat right. Try to fuel up with fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Good sources
of protein can be peanut butter, chicken, or tuna salad. Eat whole-grains,
such as wheat breads and wheat crackers. Don’t be fooled by the jolt you
get from caffeine or sugar. Your energy will wear off.
What activities or things could help people to
relax?
• Listening to music
• Playing with a pet
• Laughing or crying
• Going out with a friend (shopping, movie, dining)
• Taking a bath or shower
• Writing, painting, or other creative activity
• Praying or going to church
• Exercising or getting outdoors to enjoy nature
• Discussing situations with a spouse or close friend
• Gardening or making home repairs
• Practicing deep breathing, meditation, or muscle
relaxation
Opinions about stress:
• stress is experienced in levels
• stress is normal thing in life.
• On holiday you should see a lot of things and you shouldn`t have to do
something for school. So relax and expect, see that the people spoil you.
• So you should go on holiday because that takes one`s mind off things.
• Everybody needs a break of his stressing life.
• I think stress is a very complicated thing.
• It is life and I now that I will be happy again after the stressing situation.
• I really think that there are positive sides to stress - people just tend to miss
them because they pay attention to of the negative side effects.
• Go somewhere you like, maybe a sunny place, or somewhere snowy, just
as you like.
• I think you just need to remind yourself that there's something called 'fun'
and 'relaxation'.
Picture of stress