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What's Your Stress Threshold?

Photo of woman with her eyes closedYou've felt it before in high-pressure situations. Your head hurts. Your heart beats faster. Your stomach churns. You know you've hit your limit.

A little bit of tension can be thrilling or motivating. Think of scoring the winning goal or meeting a tight deadline. But everyone has a point at which stress turns into distress. When you reach this stress threshold, your emotions can begin to harm your health.

Determining Your Breaking Point

Your stress threshold varies from your spouse's or your co-worker's and can change over time. Factors that determine how much stress you can healthily handle include:
  • Past experiences
  • Role models and support systems
  • Health and lifestyle
  • Gender - Women seem more prone to developing heart problems when under stress.
  • Personality type - If you tend to be a "type A" aggressive person or a "worry wart," for example, you might be more prone to the effects of stress.

Heed Your Body's Warning Signs

Fortunately when you're in over your head, your body sends warning signs. Symptoms of stress overload include:
  • Sleep problems
  • Upset stomach
  • Memory problems
  • Feeling angry, anxious, or jittery
  • Pain in your chest, head, neck, or back
  • Getting colds more often

Talk with your doctor if you spot these signals. He or she can make sure they're not caused by other health problems - and also help you cope with stress.

Learn Ways to De-Stress

Recognizing you have too much on your plate is only the first step. Try these tips to manage or reduce stress:
  • When you can't bypass stressful situations, change your reaction. Let go of things you can't control and try to see change as a positive challenge.
  • Practice stress management techniques, including yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.
  • Stay healthy to better cope with life's challenges. For instance, exercise regularly to relieve tension.

Dean Offers Online Stress Management Tool

When you have reached your breaking point, sometimes the stress in your life can seem too hard to handle and you are not sure where to turn. The psychiatry department at Dean Health System (DHS) has developed a complimentary and confidential web resource to help manage your stress level.

The website features four audio recordings of relaxation exercises that can help reduce stress and anxiety. The site also features a library of articles on stress-related topics and a link to DHS providers that offer behavioral health services. Check out the new stress management web resource at deancare.com/stress.

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