Stress, in its simplest terms, is our REACTION to changes around us. Note the definition does NOT point to the change itself, but our reaction to it.
So, stress is NOT what happens to us, but how we react to it.
That’s good news, because, the definition of stress suggests it is something we can control. While we may not be able to control changes around us, we can certainly attempt to control how we REACT to them.
Our reaction determines the effects stress has on our body and mind.
What Kind Of “Changes” Cause Stress?
The changes that cause our stress could be internal or external.
When our brain perceives a change to be a threat to our survival, it releases stress hormones, or cortisol, into our system, to prepare us to FIGHT the change, or if necessary, to FLEE from it.
These hormones are necessary, and are put to good use naturally, if the situation indeed is a real threat for our physical survival. Like when we are attacked by a robber, for instance!
However the unfortunate reality is, most of the situations we run into in our daily lives do not have anything to do with our physical survival.
And consequently, most of these situations DO NOT warrant the release of these stress hormones into our system.
And yet, because of the importance we consciously or unconsciously assign to these situations, these chemicals, do get released into our system on a daily basis.
Something simple enough like not being organized can cause the release of these chemicals in our body.
And our body reacts the same way to a perceived threat, as it does to a real threat, by releasing equal hormones.
Here are some of the biggest causes of stress in our lives today.
What happens to all these unnecessary stress hormones that are released into our system?
They remain there. We cannot PHYSICALLY fight most of today’s problems. Nor can we literally run away from them.
So these stress hormones do not get used up for FIGHTING our threat, or FLEEING from it, which is the reason our body produced them in first place.
So unless we engage ourselves in an activity that involves our physical and mental resources in an equivalent way – like exercise – these released chemicals continue to inhabit our system, and accumulate over time.
Check out the symptoms of stress if you think you have them, but unsure.
How do these hormones that remain in our system affect us?
They cause us to be constantly in an alarm state. They deprive us of our much needed sleep.
We are on alert and constantly on the look out for the “enemy”, in preparation to FIGHT it or FLEE from it.
They impair our judgment, erode our self confidence, and cause us to be irritable and angry all the time.
Stress hormones are one of the most overlooked, but nevertheless, serious causes of memory loss. And worse, sometimes they cause the stress or fear to escalate into panic attacks or anxiety disorders as well.
How To Prevent Stress?
Follow these THREE rules:
- No Negativity: Control negative thoughts arising out of another person’s words or actions.
- Don’t Worry: Quit worrying about situations life throws at you.
- Take It Easy: Get into “Take It Easy” mode of life.
Remember the definition of stress? Its about our reaction.
Use the above rules to beat stress in its own game, by learning how NOT to react in ways consistent with the definition of stress as outlined earlier.
Here are 7 ways to deal with stress we all experience from time to time.
Filed under Panic Attacks by on Dec 4th, 2011. 
Overcoming Low Self Esteem
Does improving self confidence boost self esteem as well?
Pointers to self esteem activities and tips for overcoming low self esteem.
Motivational speakers and mental health counselors often say that the single most important personality trait one can develop is self esteem.
Definition of Self Esteem:
Self Esteem or self worth is your opinion of yourself. It is what you think you deserve. In here you will find many self esteem building tips, plenty of self esteem self help, as well as audios designed to improve self esteem.
Who wouldn’t want to feel more attractive about oneself, overcome shyness and social anxiety forever, or improve communication skills, right?
Difference Between Self Confidence And Self Esteem
While confidence has to do with belief in yourself and your abilities, self esteem has more to do with how much value you put on yourself as a person. The difference between self confidence and self esteem is the difference between Unfortunately, No.
Gaining self confidence, or getting a positive boost to one’s belief in his or her abilities, does not necessarily translate to an equivalent increase in terms of one’s estimation of one’s self worth. Case in point: Some of the popular celebrities who radiate confidence on stage, but suffer in quiet desperation to the point of being driven to depression in their private lives. And that’s possibly because their feeling of self worth is not keeping pace with all they have achieved in their lives. But the converse is always true – A low self esteem always leads to low belief in one self (low self-confidence), and to boost self esteem is a natural way to boost self-confidence. One easy way to build self esteem is by listening to self hypnosis audios. These sessions come in a variety of choices to address all self esteem needs, and their main advantage is they are instantly downloadable.
Often, the terms self confidence and self esteem are used interchangeably. But there is a subtle difference between being confident and having a better self esteem.
“Can I do it?” Vs “Am I worth it?”.Does having a good self confidence imply a feeling of great self worth as well?
It’s Great to be Who You Are, Whoever You Are
Do You Have a Self Confidence Story or a Self Esteem Tip to Share?
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What are your self esteem tips?
Share them here.
Your story, tip or experience may help others, or make their day!
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Filed under Panic Attacks by on Dec 2nd, 2011.
On this page: Does improving self confidence boost self esteem as well?
Pointers to self esteem activities and tips for overcoming low self esteem.
Motivational speakers and mental health counselors often say that the single most important personality trait one can develop is self esteem.
Self Esteem or self worth is your opinion of yourself. It is what you think you deserve. On these pages you will find many self esteem building tips, and plenty of self esteem self help.
Who wouldn’t want to feel more attractive about oneself, or overcome shyness and social anxiety forever, right?
“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.” -Oscar Wilde Difference Between Self Confidence And Self Esteem
Often, the term self-esteem or self-worth is used interchangeably with the term self-confidence. But there is a subtle distinction between the two terms.
While self-confidence has to do with your belief in yourself and your abilities, self-esteem has more to do with how much value you put on yourself as a person.
The difference between self-confidence and self-esteem is the difference between -
“I can do it!” Vs “Am I worth it?”.
“A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.” -Mark Twain
Does having a good self confidence imply a feeling of great self worth as well?
Unfortunately, No.
Gaining self confidence, or getting a positive boost to one’s belief in his or her abilities, does not necessarily translate to an equivalent increase in terms of one’s estimation of one’s self worth.
Case in point: Some of the popular celebrities who radiate confidence on stage, but suffer in quiet desperation to the point of being driven to depression in their private lives. And that’s possibly because their feeling of self worth is not keeping pace with all they have achieved in their lives.
But the converse is always true – A low self esteem always leads to low belief in one self (low self-confidence), and to boost self esteem is a natural way to boost self-confidence.
“Self respect isn’t everything; it’s just that there’s nothing without it.” -Gloria Steinem
is a particularly important trait because, how we think about ourselves, and whether we find value in ourselves, translates into how we teach, show and mirror these qualities to and for our children as well.
Self help hypnosis is fast becoming one of the more popular ways people are opting to improve self esteem. With sessions being instantly downloadable, and with a variety of choices to address every conceivable self esteem need, this approach is now becoming increasingly accepted in the mainstream, to resolve various self esteem issues.
For instance, you can use self help hypnosis to overcome shyness and social anxiety, to get rid of public speaking fear, and to start feeling more attractive about yourself, just to name a few. If you are considering self help hypnosis to address your self esteem needs, by all means give it a try. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results!
Share Your Story or Tip * See What Others Shared
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View full post on Self Improvement Blog
Filed under Panic Attacks Help by on Jan 25th, 2011.
If you are wondering the question of what is a panic attack, then you need to know that there are many different issues that you have to take into consideration here. For instance there is the fact that most people do not even realize that they are experiencing panic attacks before it is too late, and so you really need to make sure that you get in to your doctor on a regular basis so that you can not only know the answer as to what is a panic attack, but as well you will be able to figure out methods that you can use for treatment.
Definition of a Panic Attack?
In regards to the question of what is a panic attack, basically the definition of a panic attack is an attack which occurs suddenly and without warning, and what happens is it is an intense feeling of fear and anxiety, and it is associated with that of many different physical symptoms such as rapid heart beat, trembling, rapid shallow breathing, and pins and needles in the arms, for instance.
As well in regards to the question of what is a panic attack, it is in other words an acute and intense rise in anxiety that is experienced as overwhelming and accompanied by feelings of impending doom and during one of these such attacks, one may experience heart racing and pounding, shortness of breath, numbness or tingling, nausea, and fear of dying or of losing control of one’s mind.
Panic attacks are incredibly serious, and so if you even think that you may have experienced one then you are going to want to make sure that you get into your family doctor as soon as possible so that you can get checked out and so that thus you will be able to know whether or not you are actually experiencing attacks of this kind and so that thus you can get treatment and help for them as soon as possible.
Know that there is really a multitude of options in regards to treatment that are available out there for you, and so if you are a sufferer of panic attacks then you need to know that you should never feel as though you are at a loss or as though there is no help available for you because this is certainly not true.
View full post on Overcome Panic Attacks
Filed under Panic Attacks News by on Nov 14th, 2010.