STRESS

Ever had a day like this? At work, the phone rings off the hook, meetings drag on endlessly, and the boss drops an emergency project on you at the last minute. As you try to take it all in, you may find your muscles tensing, your heart pounding, and your breathing elevating.
Adrenaline is rushing through your body, your digestion stops, and your blood pressure rises. What's happening? It's the fight or flight syndrome, a physical response to danger that is the hallmark of stress. It is there to protect you, but it can also make you sick.

Stress form major life events or just the hassles of daily living affect everyone at some point. The problem may arise when you fail to let your body relax. As a reaction to chronic stress, you may stay on guard all the time. This can lead to exhaustion or burnout, a state that sometimes causes physical changes in different body systems. Depending on your individual heredity and lifestyle, you may develop conditions like ulcers, colitis (co-ly-tis), high blood pressure, or even heart attack. The good news is that there are proven techniques like muscle relaxation, regular exercise, meditation, and biofeedback which have helped many people learn to manage stress.

For more information on stress, contact a counselor at the BABBCENTER at 824.3772 or 800.458.1755.