Baby Boomer Awareness

Some deny its existence, others will argue. Many know it all too well but there are those who simply believe it’s been ‘over-rated’..What is it?? In a word, STRESS.

Definition:Physical or emotional tension

Any change in our lives causes stress. The change might be physical, such as extremes in temperature or loud noises, or emotional, such as the loss of a job or the beginning of a new relationship. Although we usually think of stress as the result of negative events, positive changes, such as marriage and getting a promotion at work, also creates stress.

Regardless of the cause, stress sets in motion certain automatic changes in the body that are designed to give it a quick burst of energy. The pattern of changes has been called the ‘fight-or-fight’ response because it probably eveolved from our prehistoric ancestors, who faced daily dangesr in the search for food and shelter and had to either flee or do battle! Of course, we no longer face such dangers, but our bodies continue to react as if we did. So instead of responding to a sabre-tooth tiger lurking behind a tree, the body reacts to petty annoyances like getting caught in traffic, being reprimanded by a supervisor, worrying about bills or health issues. Regardless of the type of stress, the body goes through the following changes: [see if you recognise any]

The adrenal glands release adrenalin and other stress hormones that prime certain organs to leap into action.

The breathing becomes faster and more shallow to allow the body to take in more oxygen.

The liver releases more glucose[blood sugar] to provide extra energy.

The heart beats faster and the blood pressure rises to increase the distribution of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

Blood flow to the brain and muscles is increased and, at the same time, reduced to the digestive organs.

Sweating increases to allow the body to burn more kilojoules without a rise in body temeperature. [In theory, sweating also makes the skin slippery and more difficult for a predator to grab.]

After the stressor disappears, the body returns to its normal state[homeostasis]. If however, stress is chronic-as it is for many people-the body stays on high alert. The many damaging consequenses of this include a rise in cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, damaged blood vessels, decreased mental skills and weakened immune system.

So what do we do? Well many of us have our own remedies to allieviate this problem, and most often it is dervied from common knowledge. Probably why you hear the words, ‘relax’ more over being repeated to calm you down. But in a real stressful enviroment, those two words don’t always come into play, no matter how often they are repeated.There are dozens of things you can try to improve your ability to cope. Here’s a few tips that might help.

• Take a walk, if you can, find somewhere peaceful with pleasant surroundings. Try a park with a swing!
• Prioritise and delegate-Do ONLY what’s important & neccessary as to avoid being overwhlemed.
• List daily tasks-Do this in order of importance, tackling them, one by one. Listing your tasks can get them off your mind and allow you the satisfaction of checking them off once done.
• Allow yourself a break-try to relax for a few minutes at a time between tasks.
• Try not to worry-about things you didnt achieve in that day, things you overlooked. Rather, plan to do them for the next day.
• Allow yourself extra time-to help complete a project or meet that appointment. This will help to avoid the anxiety and stress caused by traffic and other unexpected delays.
• Make your enviroment restful-Noise, aggresive colours and harsh lighting can all contribute to stress, even if you think you have adapted to them.
• Set aside time for daily relaxation-Read an uplifting book[such as that shown here]go fishing,listen to music, soak in a hot tub infused with aromatic oils and perhaps a few scented candles placed around the bath,engage in some pleasurable activity regularly.

Stress is a real symptom. It is the body’s tool for speaking to you, warning you to slow down, take things easier. A gentle approach to the soul never hurt anyone and can do wonders for the mind!

"Whatever"A baby boomer’s journey into middle age- by Beverly Mahone-Available at Amazon.com or http://www.enjoyyourmenopause.com/book_reviews.htm