Zhenya: Stress is actually a normal part of life.

At times, it serves a
useful purpose. Stress can motivate you to get that promotion at work, or
run the last mile of a marathon. But if you don't get a handle on your
stress and it becomes long-term, it can seriously interfere with your job,
family life, and health.
Yana: Everyone has different stress triggers. Work stress tops the list,
according to surveys. Forty percent of U.S. workers admit to experiencing
office stress, and one-quarter say work is the biggest source of stress in
their lives.
Zhenya: Causes of work stress include:

 Being unhappy in your job

 Having poor management, unclear expectations of your work, or no
say in the decision-making process
 Working under dangerous conditions
 Having to give speeches in front of colleagues

Yana: Life stresses can also have a big impact. Examples of life stresses
are:

 The death of a loved one

 Divorce
 Loss of a job
 Increase in financial obligations
 Getting married
 Moving to a new home
 Chronic illness or injury
 Emotional problems (depression, anxiety, anger, grief, guilt, low
self-esteem)

Zhenya: Sometimes the stress comes from inside, rather than outside. You
can stress yourself out just by worrying about things. All of these factors
can lead to stress:

 Fear and uncertainty

 Attitudes and perceptions.
 Unrealistic expectations.
  Change. Any major life change can be stressful – even a happy event
like a wedding or a job promotion.

Yana: Your stress level will differ based on your personality and how you
respond to situations. Some people let everything roll off their back. To
them, work stresses and life stresses are just minor bumps in the road.
Others literally worry themselves sick.

Zhenya: Effects of Stress on Your Health

When you are in a stressful situation, your body launches a physical
response. Your nervous system springs into action, releasing hormones
that prepare you to either fight or take off. It's called the "fight or flight"
response, and it's why, when you're in a stressful situation, you may notice
that your heartbeat speeds up, your breathing gets faster, your muscles
tense, and you start to sweat. This kind of stress is short-term and
temporary (acute stress), and your body usually recovers quickly from it.
Yana: But if your stress system stays activated over a long period of time
(chronic stress), it can lead to or aggravate more serious health problems.
The constant rush of stress hormones can put a lot of wear and tear on your
body, causing it to age more quickly and making it more prone to illness.
If you've been stressed out for a short period of time, you may start to
notice some of these physical signs like Headache or Difficulty sleeping.
Zhenya: When stress becomes long-term and is not properly addressed, it
can lead to a number of more serious health conditions, including:

 Depression
 High blood pressure
 Abnormal heartbeat
 Hardening of the arteries
 Heart disease
 Heart attack

And others.

Yana: People can learn to manage stress and lead happier, healthier lives.
Here are some tips to help you keep stress at bay.

 Keep a positive attitude.

  Accept that there are events that you cannot control.
 Be assertive instead of aggressive. Assert your feelings, opinions, or
beliefs instead of becoming angry, defensive, or passive.
 Learn and practice relaxation techniques; try meditation, yoga, or tai-
chi for stress management.
 Exercise regularly. Your body can fight stress better when it is fit.
 Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
 Learn to manage your time more effectively.

Zhenya:

 Set limits appropriately and learn to say no to requests that would

create excessive stress in your life.
 Make time for hobbies, interests, and relaxation.
 Get enough rest and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from
stressful events.
 Don't rely on alcohol, drugs, or compulsive behaviors to reduce
stress.
 Seek out social support. Spend enough time with those you enjoy.
 Seek treatment with a psychologist or other mental
health professional trained in stress
management or biofeedback techniques to learn healthy ways of
dealing with the stress in your life.