Back to list 2020-08-24 11:19:38

Most people experience stress from time to time depending on the situation/moment they have to face. In our today’s modern society, stress has become a “normal” part of our daily life. The World Health Organization states that stress has become a worldwide epidemic with an increasing number of people suffering from stress-induced diseases’ such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes etc.

MSH China has decided to interview Selina Lin, experienced mental health counselor from Jiahui Wellness Center with many years of experience in counseling in the areas of stress and emotional management, crisis intervention, marriage, parenting, depression/anxiety and so on.

There are many stress triggers but they can greatly differ from person to person. Generally speaking, stress comes from work and life challenges. However, sometimes the stress comes from inside. You can stress yourself out just by worrying about things.

Work stress related causes can be being unhappy in your job, working long hours, having poor management, being insecure about your chance for advancement or risk of termination etc.

Life stressors also have a big impact such as the death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job, getting married, taking care of an elderly or sick family member, etc.

Inside stress factors:

-   Fear & uncertainty – We live in a world that we are not able to control. The sense of not being in control can make some people feel stressed.

-   Attitudes & perceptions – How you view the world or a particular situation can determine whether it causes stress.

-   Unrealistic expectations – No one is perfect. If you expect to do everything right 100% of time, you’re destined to feel stressed especially when things don’t go as expected.

-   Changes – Any major life change can be stressful. Even a happy event like a wedding or a job promotion.

Your stress level will differ based on your personality and how you respond to situations.

Stress affects your body, thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Moreover, if you don’t manage your stress level this can contribute to many health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

When working properly, stress helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations, stress can save your life—giving you extra strength to defend yourself, for example, or spurring you to slam on the brakes to avoid a car accident.

However, beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, mood, productivity, relationships, and your quality of life. It’s then important to be aware of stress symptoms mentioned above. If you frequently find yourself feeling frazzled and overwhelmed, it’s time to take action to bring your nervous system back into balance.

Indeed, stress whether chronic (long term damaging stress associated with poverty, chronic diseases, dysfunctional families, trapped in an unhappy marriage or in a disliked job etc.) or acute (losing a job or the death of a loved one) might greatly increase the risk of depression in susceptible people.

One of key points is to be aware of your body energy level and have regular rest to reenergize your body. The rest can be just a few minutes of breathing/mindfulness exercise which can reenergize you. Regular physical exercises will be very helpful.