The following article will be focusing on stress caused by relationships of romantic nature, familial nature or just friendship, and the effect that stress can have on those relationships. However, firstly, what exactly does the term 'stress' mean? Well, stress refers to a state of mental or emotional strain caused by all manners of taxing situations which may include significant changes to the affected person's life (e.g changes in surrounding, losing a loved one), challenges at work or school, dealing with expectations, just growing up, and last but
not least, the many different relationships and bonds that are a part of everyone's life.
Relationships, generally a connection between two or more people, are a important point of focus when concerning stress, as problems stemming from a difficult or unhappy relationship can cause an immense amount of frustration and worry, which then leads to stress. Things such as arguments between friends, disagreements with a girlfriend or a boyfriend, fights with parents or siblings, particularly frustrating bosses or coworkers and even irritating teachers are examples of these problems. Another point to be noted is that stress also has a large impact on a relationship, not just the other way around, and that at times, stress can severely damage a relationship due to many effects that stress can have on a person.
Impact of Stress
Stress can have a major impact on a person's life, commonly affecting their health and can sometimes result in diseases. Stress comes with both short term and long term consequences such as:
loss of concentration
memory problems
fatigue
headaches
sweating
panic attacks
high blood pressure.
amnesia
sleepwalking
Stress also causes many emotional problems, often evoking:
irritability
short temper
emotional distance
frustration
a sense of helplessness
However, stress doesn't only affect that one person, it also affects those people around them:
irritability and short temper often leads to harsh words and unnecessary cruelty, which can cause rifts in relationships and cause people to hurt those around them in emotional ways.
irritability, short temper, and frustration can also lead to violence, and may cause a person to begin hurting anyone at the slightest provocation.
emotional distance can cause family and friends to worry excessively.
friends may decide to avoid you or even cut ties with you if all you do is snap at them or ignore them.
If you are frustrated and actively show it, then you may cause others to feel the same, and make them stress as well.
fatigue caused by stress lowers one's ability to solve problems, and causes confusion, which in turn impacts a person's work ethic.
inability to keep up with work at school.
How do you cope with it?
Although stress does have detrimental effect on one's lifestyle, there are simple actions one can take to reduce that stress, and be more relaxed. These include:
Eat healthy - This will help to keep your mind clear and keep your energy up. After all, 'A healthy body is a healthy mind.'
Exercising regularly - As well as maintaining health, exercise can help to vent out some of the built up stress and tension you may have.
Getting a sufficient amount of sleep - Insufficient sleep may cause you to think irrationally and it has been proven that lack of sleep causes inability to deal with stress.
Practicing meditation or yoga - This can help you to relax your mind and identify the cause of your stress more effectively.
Spending some time with family or friends - Just another way to help you relax and have some fun.
Avoid drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes - These can only make your situation worse AND cause both short term and long term health problems.
Tone down on caffeine and sugar - These result in ruining your mood and energy after the temporary 'highs' they give you. If you reduce the mount you consume, then you will be more relaxed, and you will sleep better.
Laugh more - As surprising as it may be, laughing actually has many benefits in the case of stress. It triggers the release of chemicals called endorphins, which promote an overall sense of well-being. Laughter also decreases stress hormone, and increases immune cells, which help to protect your body against diseases.
Look at it from a different perspective - Is it really so bad? Will it affect you and your life as much as you;re making it out to?
Share - Talk to someone who you trust, maybe they can help you to find that different perspective that you weren't able to, or just offer you support and their help with what is stressing you so much.
Support
Before you start to worry, you have to realize that there is support available for people at an individual, community and government level should you ever need it.
At an individual level, you can begin by talking to the person who you may be arguing with, and thinking about your differences from a different angle and perspective. If this doesn't work, then you can always go to someone you trust, like your family and friends, who are likely to have experienced relationship issues before, and if not, are likely to be able to give you good advice and their support.
At a community level, you can always talk to a counsellor about your problems, as they are professionally trained to deal with mental health (such as stress) and are guaranteed to know how they can help you. Other forms of help at a community level include teachers, your GP, mental health practitioners, and even counsel from church, whether you are religious or not. Another form of community support that is available to you includes internet communities where you can gain advice from people in the same situation as you, as well as professionals on the topics of stress and relationships.
At a government level, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing funded 'headspace', the National Youth Mental Health Foundation which allows young people aged from 12-25 to seek help and advice in many different matters including stress.
At Youth Beyond Blue, you can seek advice from other people in the same situation as you, access fact sheets and other information, and even read other people's stories and give them advice.
headspace http://www.headspace.org.au/
Headspace is the Australian Government funded National Youth Mental Health Association, the site of which offers information and advice, and can assist with stress.
Kids Helpline http://www.kidshelp.com.au/ 1800 55 1800
A free call Australian helpline for anyone from age 5-25, where you can talk to a counsellor for any problem at all. Kids helpline also offers web counselling and email counselling if you do not wish to do so via phone.
The following article will be focusing on stress caused by relationships of romantic nature, familial nature or just friendship, and the effect that stress can have on those relationships. However, firstly, what exactly does the term 'stress' mean? Well, stress refers to a state of mental or emotional strain caused by all manners of taxing situations which may include significant changes to the affected person's life (e.g changes in surrounding, losing a loved one), challenges at work or school, dealing with expectations, just growing up, and last but
not least, the many different relationships and bonds that are a part of everyone's life.
Relationships, generally a connection between two or more people, are a important point of focus when concerning stress, as problems stemming from a difficult or unhappy relationship can cause an immense amount of frustration and worry, which then leads to stress. Things such as arguments between friends, disagreements with a girlfriend or a boyfriend, fights with parents or siblings, particularly frustrating bosses or coworkers and even irritating teachers are examples of these problems. Another point to be noted is that stress also has a large impact on a relationship, not just the other way around, and that at times, stress can severely damage a relationship due to many effects that stress can have on a person.
Impact of Stress
Stress can have a major impact on a person's life, commonly affecting their health and can sometimes result in diseases. Stress comes with both short term and long term consequences such as:
Stress also causes many emotional problems, often evoking:
However, stress doesn't only affect that one person, it also affects those people around them:
How do you cope with it?
Although stress does have detrimental effect on one's lifestyle, there are simple actions one can take to reduce that stress, and be more relaxed. These include:
Support
Before you start to worry, you have to realize that there is support available for people at an individual, community and government level should you ever need it.
At an individual level, you can begin by talking to the person who you may be arguing with, and thinking about your differences from a different angle and perspective. If this doesn't work, then you can always go to someone you trust, like your family and friends, who are likely to have experienced relationship issues before, and if not, are likely to be able to give you good advice and their support.
At a community level, you can always talk to a counsellor about your problems, as they are professionally trained to deal with mental health (such as stress) and are guaranteed to know how they can help you. Other forms of help at a community level include teachers, your GP, mental health practitioners, and even counsel from church, whether you are religious or not. Another form of community support that is available to you includes internet communities where you can gain advice from people in the same situation as you, as well as professionals on the topics of stress and relationships.
At a government level, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing funded 'headspace', the National Youth Mental Health Foundation which allows young people aged from 12-25 to seek help and advice in many different matters including stress.
Where can I find help?
Youth Beyond Blue
http://www.youthbeyondblue.com/
1300 22 4636
At Youth Beyond Blue, you can seek advice from other people in the same situation as you, access fact sheets and other information, and even read other people's stories and give them advice.
headspace
http://www.headspace.org.au/
Headspace is the Australian Government funded National Youth Mental Health Association, the site of which offers information and advice, and can assist with stress.
Kids Helpline
http://www.kidshelp.com.au/
1800 55 1800
A free call Australian helpline for anyone from age 5-25, where you can talk to a counsellor for any problem at all. Kids helpline also offers web counselling and email counselling if you do not wish to do so via phone.