Stress...the term covers so many things. What is it?

Stress can be the distressing feeling of overwhelm. Or it can be anxiety and fear. The word stress is undefined-naming, and grouping too many things under one label. As a health coach I find myself having to use it, because it seems to be as big a problem as obesity and heart-circulatory conditions. Everyone just calls it Stress.

Let's define our terms, in general but also personally, what stress means to you. We can talk about what's causing it, and then after that we can talk about what can be done to alleviate the problem, if it is a problem, which it probably is.

Stress is normal.

Let's get that concept out of the way. Stress is not always a problem. some stress is good. Things need to be done in a timely manner. Folks are coming to visit and you have to finish remodeling the house. Things that need to be done, especially with deadlines, keep you on your toes, keep you going, get you motivated.

This needs another name, at least for us un-scientifics. We could call it normal stress—just you being active and energetic, but not overwhelmed.

Your stress is not only yours, it is not unknown to other humans. Animals and plants react to stress too—which I believe can be defined as a stimulation that is upsetting to the normal equilibrium. If that's any comfort, it should be, because that means stress as such, is a survival mechanism. It’s also an ecological mechanism and is evolutionary, in the sense of improving the species. Maybe it can improve us individually as well.

With that in mind, if your stress is making you lethargic, depressed, and ready to jump off a bridge, then we can probably call it Stress. You may need a professional counselor. If it's causing you to lose sleep. If you are irrationally aggressive sometimes, taking out anger on people around you. If you're drinking too much or have taken up alcohol to relax, those can be symptoms of a manageable stress.

If you feel taken over by irrational and uncontrollable actions, I strongly advise seeing a professional therapist or counselor.

Coaching is geared towards behavioral outcomes rather than the therapist’s investment in exploring past influences. Dieting is a good example of what a good coach knows. Which is that?long-lasting behavior changes only come about with thoughtful examination and emotional participation in the process of making changes and building new patterns

I consider three categories of stress—overwhelm, fear and anxiety. (I’d be glad if you’d like to add to the discussion.)

The stress of overwhelm seems easy enough to deal with. Decide to stop doing so much and work out how to do that.

Let's consider fear and anxiety as general categories and then how they show up in your life personally.

Fear of a real threat can bring one to the point of “fight or flee” or freeze, aggressiveness or apathy. This happens when one doesn't know what to do or feels helpless before the imminent probability of disaster. But at least there is help for that.

You become able to face the fear once you start to define it. Both in general and in personal terms. This gives you the ability to act. Action is the real antidote to fear.

How to define stress as anxiety.

Anxiety needs to be brought out into the light, to be faced, just as fear does. Even more so.

The literature defines anxiety as feelings of dread, apprehension, worry and tension in situations that are not threatening. I would add that the threat is not physically present and the threat is not defined.

Panic attacks are considered a sub-category of anxiety—defined as unreasonable but overpowering feelings of fear that cause physical symptoms—heart palpitations, fast, shallow breathing and sweating. The physical sensations themselves cause fear reactions—so that the person fears they are having a heart attack or even dying.

Here we are considering anxiety as low-level (perhaps sub-conscious), underlying feelings based on undefined fear. There is no imminent threat. When anxiety reaches the level of anxiety attacks, harming oneself or others, or as phobias, like the fear of germs or of going outside, then professional therapy is advised.

All of these so-called mood and mind “disorders” are treated with drugs which are based on the activity of neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain. My non-clinician advice is not to take them indiscriminately, but do your research on hormones and the neurotransmitter chemicals, as well as the history of pharmaceuticals.

I believe that some people by personality and genes are more prone to positivity, cheerfulness, and risk-taking, while others are more prone to planning, “counting the cost” and worry. When the worrier's natural tendency shows up as sleeplessness or un-called-for aggressive reactions, then it can be called anxiety. And of course cheerful types are just as susceptible, if not more so, to bouts of anxiety.

Another personal note, is that I have seen cases in my family and friends of so-called neurotic behaviour, such as a pre-teenager’s hoarding. I’ve been told of panic attacks. In both these individuals the stress-related behaviors were tied to family dynamics and subsided when the situations became less threatening.

Another aspect worth noting is that everyone of us is an individual. Although I did read some astounding statistics today from a gene researcher who said that our genes are 99.9% the same in every human. That only leaves 0.1% that's making each and everyone of us unique. not only us, but each microscopic being, each plant is different from every other one, perhaps every cell, even every molecule is unique. That's probably irrelevant but interesting.

Your stress is not unknown to other humans. And animals and plants react to stress. If that's any comfort, it should be. It's a survival mechanism, an ecological mechanism and evolutionary, improving the species. And perhaps improving us as individuals.

I believe that as you begin to define what is your personal stress, as well as what it’s called in general, you will begin to see what's causing it.

Maybe you haven't known what to do because you don't know what the helpless feeling is from. Maybe you didn't want to face what it is that could be causing the feelings of anxiety or fear.

What is your Stress? Is it feeling nervous and overwhelmed from too much to do. Is it fear based on a real threat, losing something important to you. Or is it a general un-named anxiety?

The good thing about fear is that you can see it, name it and it has a remedy—action.

The good thing about overwhelm is you can do something about that too, even if it feels as if you can’t.

If anxiety is causing you problems, then you may have to dig a bit deeper to find what’s going on and the courage to deal with it.

Of course I recommend “natural” stress-buster techniques and habits that will improve your life in the long run, not just treat symptoms. Just taking care of yourself, those things we all know...is the best thing to do.

Eat healthy, take walks and exercise, breathe, talk to people.

If you are doing things now to help, determine how helpful they are. Ask if they can be improved or even ditched.

Choose one or two de-stressors to make a part of your life—to move forward, onward and upward.

Figure out what steps to take that will help and then do them.

For example--

-Choose one aspect of getting more sleep, like going to bed earlier. Steps to do that.

-Slow breathing, very important! Learn about it and how you can incorporate it into your life routines.

-Eat well. Save potato and corn chips for once-a-month outings.

-Get outside. Develop a movement routine that includes being out of doors.

Go back to review what you wrote down about your stress situation when you began to think about it. Brainstorm and consider some long-term solutions.

To take a positive spin—

Think of this trouble as “This Too Will Pass.” This is a good thing for you to go through. You will be a changed person for the better. You will have learned some important things. It will have a good outcome and things will be better in your life.

You will be a stronger, better person after you go through it and come out the other side.

Best wishes.