Like taxes, stress is a part of everyones life. The experts tell us that some stress is good because without it there would be no motivation to do anything! However, if you are like me, serious stress and anxiety makes me feel bad physically I am unable to eat. This cant be good!
For most of us, stress is low-level most of the time. Our daily tasks and relationships give us a bit of stress but not major anxiety. The bodys response to low-level stressors is designed to motivate us to action with a slightly raised heart rate and increased mental clarity similar to the response to caffeine.
In times where stress levels go higher, the responses are what many people call the fight or flight response. The body sends blood to the extremities to get ready for action! These responses are normal and good for you except when the stress levels remain high for a long time. When the body perpetually stays in a stressed state, the systems begin to break down. Think of it like a car engine where the throttle is stuck and the engine is constantly revved up. Not only will it consume A LOT of gasoline, but the mechanical parts will wear out faster.
So what to...