Stress in one of the most used words these days among all age groups. Be it a 5 year old or a 75 year old, in these times, everyone has experienced ‘stresses at some point in their lives. To understand it better, stress can be termed as an experience where the pressure is greater than the available resources. There are two aspects to stress – good and bad. Stress, in controlled amount, drives us to perform better; hence it is good if used as motivation. However, not everybody is able to handle stress.
Causes:
Since stress is a very individualistic phenomenon, different circumstances affect different people. While some might feel overburdened with work, some might find it difficult to adjust with the changes in life like graduating from school to go to college, a transfer in job, the beginning of a new relationship and the issues that come along with it. In instances with regard to personal health and academic or financial pressure also, one can feel extremely frazzled.
Affects:
As it is already known that a healthy mind helps keep the body health and vice versa. When the stress becomes a problem, the body starts sending signals in the form of headaches, body pain, the heart rate becomes rapid and sleep pattern and appetite also gets disturbed. The person also tends to become irritable, anxious and overwhelmed with the circumstances. They tend to procrastinate and also confine within themselves. Thought processes also get hampered with more and more negative thinking, poor attention and frequent distractions.
Management:
- Find someone to talk to, share your feelings with them so that one is able to discuss anything that could be causing discomfort. An early intervention can prevent serious consequences.
- With the preoccupation with one’s own thoughts, sometimes perception gets distorted. Hence, efforts should be made to try to keep an open mind and have empathy.
- It is a good practice to draw a plan for the day so that you there is no worry to forget important things. Prioritizing tasks can also help achieve the goals for the day.
- One often tends to keep goals and aims that are very well beyond their capabilities. It is not harmful to have ambitions but at the same time, being realistic and aware of oneself is very essential.
- With this never-ending race, it is absolutely essential to find time for oneself. To rejuvenate and relax.
- No matter how difficult it might seem but saying ‘no’ is not a crime. In fact, when the tasks given are beyond one’s capability or when there is no time for additional responsibilities.
- Exercise has a lot of benefits on the body and mind. It also helps in de-stressing.
- Slow down – Take one chore at a time. Life is not a race to win.
- Humour has a pivotal role in keeping the mind fresh. It is good to lighten up the mood.
- Get a hobby – Being able to do what one truly loves is a blessing. However for those who are not able to do so, one can connect with self and follow passion. It is the one thing that boosts confidence and helps to believe in self.
Statistics:
- As per a study conducted in 2018, about 89% of the population in India says they are suffering from stress compared to the global average of 86%.
- One out of every five employees of India Inc is suffering from workplace depression, says a new survey, and medical experts blame it on lack of support systems at both workplace and in personal circles.
- Nearly 9 in 10 Indians suffer from stress. Stress levels are higher in Indian compared with other developed and emerging countries, including the United States, the UK, Germany, France, China, Brazil and Indonesia.
- Millennial in such major Indian business hubs as Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi likely can relate to a recent survey conducted by Cigna TTK Health Insurance Co. that states 95 percent of Indian millennial admit to being stressed — more millennial than any other nation in the world.
- A study reported in WHO, conducted for the NCMH (National Care Of Medical Health), states that at least 6.5 per cent of the Indian population suffers from some form of the serious mental disorder.
