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Overcoming Stress

Overcoming Stress
Everybody has it, and everybody talks about it, but nobody really knows what stress is. WHY? It is because stress means different thing for each of us, and is also different for each of us. Manage your stress and become more productive rather than self-destructive. Stress is a part of modern living. It is unavoidable. Stress serves a purpose when it provides us with the motivation to scale new challenges or overcome difficulties. Prevalence Anybody who experiences changes in his or her life i.e., practically everybody. Stress can occur anytime. Symptoms / What to expect Physical: Aches & painsHeadachesFatigue/LethargyPalpitationStomach upsetsDizzinessSexual Dysfunction Emotional: Anxious/WorryTensedIrritable/JumpyDepressed/MoodyFeeling overwhelmedRestless Cognitive: ForgetfulnessPoor concentrationMental blockDifficulty in organizing & making decisions Behavioural: Sleep problemsCryingPoor appetiteFalling ill- cold, coughsWithdrawalSmoking/Drinking excessively Causes External Sources:

https://www.imh.com.sg/wellness/page.aspx?id=558

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Stress External sources of stress could include: Personal problemsWork problemsRelationship difficultiesPressure of studiesHealth problemsFinancial crisisUnemploymentLosses, e.g. bereavementUnexpected newsDaily hassles Internal sources of stress could include the following: Thinking stylesNegativity: "I'm useless, a loser, a failure." Too much, too young: Singapore schoolchildren's struggles with stress Schoolchildren are paying a heavy price for Singapore's success in global education rankings, with rising numbers seeking psychiatric help as they struggle to cope with the relentless pressure for academic excellence. Children are reporting symptoms of anxiety and stress related to school as early as primary school, experts warn, and there have been extreme cases where pupils have been driven to suicide. Youths often face long days at school, hours of homework, and are then pushed by parents to have private tuition, which is having an impact on mental well-being - a recent report found that overall the city's pupils reported higher levels of anxiety than average. Now, in a bid to reduce stress in its schools, Singapore is embarking upon reforms that will scrap some academic tests, and change the rigid streaming process. "We have to balance the joy of learning and the rigour of education," Ong Ye, education minister said, as he announced some of the changes in parliament earlier this year.

Stress - Counselling Services by Singapore Counselling Centre Contrary to what some individuals may feel, stress does not come from events that happen. Rather, stress comes from how we view the events. Have you noticed that some people seem to be able to handle stress better than others, even though they may all be facing the same situation? This is due to the difference in perspectives that they have towards the external event. What is Eustress and How Is It Different than Stress? [2019 Upd.] In this article, we will explore the way in which eustress – what I call positive stress – may provide a long-lasting solution to the pervasive “distress” which may be creating harm in our lives. “Imagine feeling capable of handling whatever life throws at you, without having to panic, overreact, or plan your exit strategy.” Kelly McGonigal (2008) is a health nutritionist and professor at Stanford University and believes this is possible. By delving into the inner-workings of stress, we can develop an understanding of how eustress may enable us to live more fulfilling, meaningful lives unconstrained by disproportionate neurological responses.

Understanding the stress response: Harvard Health Publishing Chronic activation of this survival mechanism impairs health A stressful situation — whether something environmental, such as a looming work deadline, or psychological, such as persistent worry about losing a job — can trigger a cascade of stress hormones that produce well-orchestrated physiological changes. A stressful incident can make the heart pound and breathing quicken. Muscles tense and beads of sweat appear. This combination of reactions to stress is also known as the "fight-or-flight" response because it evolved as a survival mechanism, enabling people and other mammals to react quickly to life-threatening situations. The carefully orchestrated yet near-instantaneous sequence of hormonal changes and physiological responses helps someone to fight the threat off or flee to safety.

The Basics of Stress Stress is a situation that triggers a particular biological response. When you perceive a threat or a major challenge, chemicals and hormones surge throughout your body. Stress triggers your fight-or-flight response in order to fight the stressor or run away from it. Typically, after the response occurs, your body should relax. Too much constant stress can have negative effects on your long-term health. Singapore students suffer from high levels of anxiety: Study Singapore students may be topping the charts in mathematics, science and reading, but it is exacting a heavy emotional price on them. An international study suggests that Singapore students, known worldwide for academic excellence, also experience high levels of anxiety and have been exposed to bullying. The findings emerged in a study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which conducts the triennial tests called the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa). The study polled 540,000 students from 72 countries and economies to look at the connection between well-being and achievement in the Pisa tests.

Stress Management Workshop Singapore. Stress Management Course Stress Management Course in Singapore Stress can be defined as emotional strain or state of mental tension as a result of demanding or adverse circumstances. Stress management is taking charge of your emotions, schedule, environment, thoughts, and how you deal with your problems. Stress management includes a wide range of psychotherapies and techniques that are aimed at controlling one’s personal levels of chronic stress, with the aim of improving everyday functioning. You should note that stress produces various mental and physical symptoms that vary according to one’s situational factors. Although life throws curveballs that can become difficult to handle, stress management offers a lot of ways to maintain overall well-being and manage anxiety.

Why Eustress Is Your Friend Not all stress is the same. Some of the stress that we face in life can be more detrimental to our well-being, and some types of stress can actually be healthy for us. For example, chronic stress—the type of stress that seems to be constant and psychologically or emotionally draining—is the most harmful to our health and wellbeing.1 This kind of chronic stress can trigger the stress response and keep it triggered for long periods of time, leaving us exhausted and close to burnout. Why Eustress Is Good Stress The Impact of Stress (Bressert S., PhD, for Psych Central) Stress often is accompanied by an array of physical reactions. These symptoms can be characteristic of other physical or mental disorders. A health care professional can rule out other causes after you have undergone a physical examination.

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