Are you an unwitting victim of stress?

Between my stifled sobs and a woefully ineffective attempt to explain my crisis, he finds the problem. Do I grind my teeth? Yes. Do I clench my jaws? Well, yes. The thing is, though, I had no idea that I did until right at that moment. I have been subconsciously punishing my poor jaws, channelling all the tension in my body through them and causing them to finally announce in no uncertain terms that they have had enough and are going into spasm. The final question was asked and answered on my own. How did I get myself into this state? The S-word; stress.

Until now I have always prided myself in being unflappable. More work? Send it my way. Extra help needed on that new project? Call me. Deadlines always fueled me and I have always welcomed my demanding schedule. It’s not that I am busier than the next person but I have always felt confident that my calm, controlled and temperate demeanour is the key to my success. Hey, if anything, I curse the way stress has become a badge of honour. We feel the need to be competitively stressed, to regularly tell our colleagues how hard we are working. In short the word has lost its meaning but now I have been made painfully aware of how real the issue is. With this physical distress, I recognise it’s just the first indication that perhaps my outward calm belies an internal tempest.

Knowing quite well the consequences of this silent killer, I must make you aware that some of the symptoms you may experience - headaches, aches and pains and Irritable Bowel Syndrome - could be laid at the door of stress.

Be aware of your body if it’s communicating to you. You may already know that in some of the developed countries like Great Britain, stress costs the economy billions every year and has overtaken the common cold as the major reason for absence from work. Stress occurs when the pressure exceeds your perceived ability to cope. Stress is, indeed, the 21st century ‘plague’ and if we don’t deal with the source of our stress it becomes physical to the extent that we can develop physical symptoms such as headaches, palpitations, rashes and insomnia. Evidence shows that women have more sources of stress than men but, thankfully, we often have better coping strategies than men. However, the fundamental way to deal with stress is to identify the root cause of it and address it directly. Maybe it is time to look at and test the latest approaches to managing your stress.

The human stress response initially developed so we could fight or run from danger. The threat of a deadline may be different from that of a lion but the response remains the same. Our body needs more energy and releases adrenaline which in turn releases sugar to provide energy to your muscles. So by eating regular complex carbohydrates and protein-rich meals during the day to balance your sugar level, you are more likely to be able to deal with stressful situations. When we are stressed, we use up a lot of B vitamin. Also, you need magnesium because it’s known as a natural ‘tranquiliser’ as it relieves anxiety and relaxes muscles.

On average we spend more than 14 hours a day sitting so it is not surprising that back problems and muscle tension are common complaints. A good aromatherapy massage can help to banish some of the muscle tension in your body as it is designed to restore your tight, aching muscles and help your circulation while the calming, soothing oils help as anti-inflammatories. It is also valuable as an indulgent treat and a chance to just lie down and relax.

Studies have found that daily exercise reduces the risk of anxiety and stress by more than 20 per cent. Stress can make us lethargic and a ‘manic’ day does little to motivate us; but we need to force ourselves to exercise and the physical and mental benefits will become clear.

People are less stressed when they can share physical intimacy. Couples who hug and kiss have shown lower levels of the so-called ‘stress hormone’ according to a study.

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