Work. Family. Finances. Health. Driving. World events. Politics. The sources of stress are almost endless in our frenetic society, and its effects are just a little different for everybody. The American Institute of Stress lists 50 common symptoms and signs of stress, and it is not meant to be an exhaustive list. As a unique individual, your symptoms of stress may not match any of those suffered by others.
The key is to figure out your own symptoms and signs of stress so that you can take preventative measures quickly. Stress can come from internal triggers as well as from external sources. Worry is a problem for many. Even if you aren’t dealing with immediate relationship or financial (or any other) problems but you are worrying about them, the same symptoms of stress can appear.
For many people, one of the first signs of stress is tension in the neck and back muscles. A good first step in the case of muscle tension is massage therapy. Once the tension is gone, you can begin to examine the source of your stress in a pain-free, clear-headed way.
Rather than constantly trying to treat all the symptoms of stress, it’s a good idea to figure out the source of your stress and take steps to change whatever is causing it. Some things are easier to address than others. For instance, if most of your stress is work related, you may have more difficulty managing it than if it is originating due to clutter in your home.
Regardless of the cause of your stress, a good mental balance will help you handle it well. Meditation, prayer and other, similar techniques can help produce a relaxed state of mind, which in turn, can help you find solutions to your stress-related problems. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Qi Gong helps patients achieve a calm, balanced mental state.
When stress has progressed for too long, or the affect has been particularly acute, acupuncture may be the best way to begin dealing with it. Stress can often lead to anxiety and acupuncture has been used for centuries to treat anxiety. Acupuncture, in fact all facets of TCM, is all about balance and stress and anxiety are very often a result of imbalance.
