Monday, November 9, 2009
Ever heard someone say, "He's a real pain in the neck"? Did you know that stress in your life can quite literally be expressed as pain and illness?Any illness that has physical symptoms, but has the mind and emotions as its origin is called a psychosomatic illness. Although you may be told that it's "all in your head", these illnesses are not imaginary. The aches and pains are very real, but because your doctor is looking for an actual physical cause, they are very tricky to diagnose and treat. The key is to look for a source of stress in the person's life that the person is not coping with. By treating the underlying stress and depression, it may be possible to heal the physical problems as well.
The first step is learning to recognize when we are under extreme stress. One way is by taking a Life Stress Test. This simple test rates various life events on a point scale. If you score high, then you are at high risk for developing stress-related illness. Another simple test to determine if you're feeling stressed: take both your hands and touch your neck. If your hand feels significantly colder than you neck, you are stressed. If they are warm, you are relaxed. Other ways you may show stress: sweaty palms, tense muscles, butterflies in the stomach, or rapid heart beat. Learn to recognize the signs of stress unique to you.
The third and final component: willingness. That's right, willingness. We have to be willing to let go of our expectations about what we must do. We have to be willing to let go of old guilts and shoulds that are guiding our behavior. We have to allow ourselves to just be human. It's okay for men to cry and be emotional. It's okay for women to let someone else have a turn with the household chores. It's okay to fall short of your goals if you're doing the best that you can. Some of our biggest stressors actually come from within ourselves!
posted by emedinfo
@4:36 AM
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