Your body is constantly tense, you can notfocus on their work, and consciousness is occupied by thoughts of problems? The to-do list seems endless to you, and you can not wait to help? You have to admit that stress has covered you with a head. And the more you dive into the waves of stress, the more damage you will inflict on yourself. What can be done to help yourself, how to get rid of stress? 
What is stress?
It is not very easy to define stress. What is a normal load for one person becomes an unbearable burden for another. Someone's stress is manifested by physical ailments, and someone it causes psychological discomfort. And the methods of stress relief are different for everyone; and someone is able to get rid of stress easily and quickly, and someone at all can not do it themselves. But for everyone, it is common that stress is a physical or mental reaction to an external or internal stimulus, usually quite long. Our body constantly adapts to external conditions, whether it is air temperature, excessive work or a real or imaginary threat. And it is the preservation or loss of this capacity for adaptation that can affect the likelihood of stress, which, in turn, has a negative impact on our overall well-being. But, strangely enough, some kinds of stress can be considered even useful for us. When consciousness states the need for struggle or escape from danger, then at the subconscious level our body reacts instantly: a portion of adrenaline is thrown into the blood, priorities are placed in the work of the bodies, and our body becomes stronger and more enduring for a time. This is considered a healthy response to a possible danger, and it is stress that helps us achieve this effect. In ordinary life, the consequences of such stress can be of use to us. For example, the stress experienced by an athlete before the start of the competition (excitement, a strong desire to win, the expectation of a fight with rivals) leads to the release of adrenaline; the blood runs faster, bringing more muscle power, his body becomes more powerful, and the athlete feels a surge of energy. After years of research, scientists have come to the conclusion that stress has a direct bearing on how well our body can fight infection. There is some evidence that in extreme conditions it is stress that helps to ease the trauma or illness, and in some cases even avoid the disease. You probably met descriptions of cases when a person, for example, with serious fractures of the legs, traveled long distances to save life - his or another person. Or after a serious injury he did not lose consciousness until he was able to report the incident and was convinced that the help would be provided. A simpler example - when you know that you simply can not get sick now, because there is a session or you need to finish the quarterly report urgently, then the flu bypasses you, and if you catch cold, even the high temperature falls literally in a couple of days. But experts are also convinced that the prolonged impact of stress weakens our ability to fight infection. And not only - the state of health generally deteriorates noticeably. Stress causes a constant feeling of fatigue, can trigger the appearance of muscle cramps or severe headaches. It is also directly related to the onset of depression and anxiety disorder. 
What are the effects of stress?
Let's face it: each of us at some point feels that one way or another is experiencing stress. Some have found ways to get rid of excessive stress; but if you are like the majority, then sometimes you also just drop your hands from impotence. Stress literally chases us, because modern life every day brings us sources of excessive stress. And the consequences do not keep you waiting. Studies by psychologists show that more than forty-seven percent of modern people are exposed to stress. Also, interviewed respondents who live in an environment of constantly high stress levels have shown that they suffer from hypertension, depression, increased anxiety and obesity. And this is not accidental: many are attracted to what, we think, can comfort and relax. We overeat, smoke a lot, we sit in front of the TV all free time. Of course, these "pleasures" can help us to escape from stress, but we get rid of it only for a short while; in the end, all the same thoughts about problems again and again begin to spin in our minds. Moreover, the consequences of our unhealthy behavior are added to already existing problems: poor health, obesity and constant lethargy. The way we age quickly is also directly related to how quickly we are able to get rid of stress. Have you ever had to face the eyes of a truly happy person of solid years? Then you should know that such people are able not only to behave, but also look as if they are much younger than their own age. But if a person is exposed to stress, then it will not be long to look young. While short-term stress can improve our immune system and memory, long-term stress "includes" processes that suppress the rate of cell division; the process of their renewal slows down, and the body is doomed to premature aging. Common diseases associated with prolonged stress include osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease. Fortunately, some of these effects can be reduced to zero with the help of medications or lifestyle changes. Another medical side effect of sustained stress is manifested in increasing the level of lipids and cholesterol in the blood. This was found during the research with a group of people. Each participant was asked to perform a number of stressful tasks, while their individual reactions to stress were recorded. Three years later, the same group of people was collected to check the level of cholesterol in the blood. Those participants who, during the past three years, had a higher level of stress, were among the highest and most dangerous in terms of cholesterol.
How women and men cope with stress
Men and women suffer stress quitedifferently. There are a number of factors that affect this. Traditionally, women are much more likely than men to take care of and care for each member of the family. This means that on our shoulders all the efforts are in the health of the household, that they are full, dressed, washed, trimmed and so on. We need to monitor the order in the house, the filling of the refrigerator, the uniform expenditure of money, the execution of lessons, the proper development of children - all along with the stress that we have to experience at work. We ourselves will tolerate both cold and hunger, but if our child or spouse is sick, then we will do our best to take care of them. Even stress will not stop us! Therefore, if necessary, women quickly get rid of spleen. If you ask men and women what they feel when they experience stress, you will find that the answers vary dramatically. Men usually characterize their reaction to a stressful situation like: a sense of anger and insomnia. Women usually say that their most important reaction to stress is an acute desire to cry. Most women also admit that at such times they begin to lean on something sweet and tasty. And then such overeating leads to a decrease in energy, fatigue and ultimately to an even greater stress. I must say that most of the research on stress was conducted with the participation of men. It was during such studies that the notion that stress was the reaction of "struggle or flight" associated with a possible danger was voiced. For decades, scientists believed that such a reaction is characteristic of all people. Only recently tests have been conducted with the participation of women; and immediately it was revealed that our reaction to stress is not the same as that of men. In most cases, women do not show a desire to "fight or run." More often than not, the instinct of women makes them seek protection from the stronger or the weakest. Now it is known that women, like men, under stress are experiencing a surge of hormones; but the types of these hormones are different in men and women. Men have a tendency to increase the content of testosterone, which encourages them to aggressive behavior. In women, however, the content of oxytocin increases, which can dispel a sense of fear and increase the instinctive desire to give care. 
Women's problems and stress
One of the most difficult problems of women's healthis associated with stress and infertility. For many years, doctors have been convincing their patients that they will forget about their infertility as soon as they can get rid of stress. Ten-year studies have shown that the level of stress in women with infertility is equal to or even higher than the level of stress in patients with cancer or having HIV infection. But only until now no one is going to determine exactly what is primary and what is secondary: stress or infertility. Women in high stress are also at great risk of experiencing pain in the muscles, in the back, getting high blood pressure or heart palpitations. All this, if you do not take measures to get rid of stress, can lead to serious diseases, for example, the heart. In addition, those women who suffer unpleasant manifestations of premenstrual syndrome or menopause, can feel a more serious reaction of the body to stress. Patients who indicated that they were suffering from stress complained also of increased pain during menstruation.
What can be done to relieve stress?
As you have probably seen, excessiveTension can not benefit your body. If you did not manage to avoid it, then it's time to talk about how to get rid of stress. One of the easiest ways to ease your condition is to talk heart to heart with a loved one. It is desirable that it was a woman, because it is she who can understand you very well - we already know that men experience stress and emotions. Discussing your condition, you can relax, share your problems and even get advice on how to fix things. You will be able to solve some of the issues that concern you. There are many other simple and easy ways to save your life from stress. We will share only some of them - we hope that they will be enough so that you can regain your peace of mind:
- Change your attitude to what is happening. If the situation that causes you concern is beyond your control, then try to act as follows:
- Try to imagine in your head the worst possible version of such a situation. At you in fact not so all is critical? Take a breath with relief!
- Decide to accept a possible outcome that would be unpleasant for you. If it does not depend on you, then you just have to go through it.
- Do your best to changehappening to the best at the moment when it happens. If everything has already happened, then do not constantly remember and worry about the fact that you could not do this or that. Now there is nothing to change, so do not hurt yourself with constant torment.
- Try to avoid chaos. Many make a mess at home or in the workplace, explaining this as a creative necessity. But if the environment surrounding you is extremely organized, then it significantly relieves your brain, removing unnecessary tension from it. Even a simple daily cleaning at the workplace at the end of a day's work can do wonders. Remember that our environment is a reflection of what is going on in our minds.
- Think only of the good. It sounds almost banal, but if you take the time to think about something good, what's happening to you - even if it's just a merry mood from a sunny day, - then unpleasant thoughts will come less and less often to your mind . Our brain is capable of focusing only on one thing at a time, so let it be something good!
- Look like a massage. Too many of us forget to take care of ourselves, so we are busy saving the world for others. But a good massage helps relax the tensed muscles. Experts say that touch can heal wounds. So if you can not afford a massage, then often ask a loved one to hug you.
- Spend time with your pets. Take your dog for a long walk, or curl up on the couch next to your cat, taking a good book. Psychologists say that finding animals close to us can remove psychological stress.
- Laugh as often as possible. You probably already know that laughter is the best medicine. Chat with your girlfriend about this, or watch a good comedy.
- Listen to your favorite music. It is known to be able to work miracles in the fight against stress! If you like soothing music, settle in a cozy corner and swim on the waves of the melody. And if you prefer music loud and cheerful, then turn it on as loud as possible and start singing and dancing. This will help you get rid of stress and give you a feeling of complete freedom.
- Go out for a walk. Spend some time in your garden, or take your girlfriend with you and take a walk in the nearest park. Staying outdoors and outdoors is very soothing. And if you have a good friend next to you, then you will be completely distracted from all problems.
- Lie in the bathroom. A pleasant, unhurried bathing procedure will help you relax. Warm water will soothe aching muscles, and aromatic oils will set you calm. And if you also light candles, especially flavored ones, then you will be completely satisfied!
- Go in for sports. Buy a subscription to the gym or sign up for yoga. A good physical load will help you also overcome some side effects from the abuse of all sorts of goodies.
- As for your diet, it should beseriously reconsider. Give up unhealthy products! Unfortunately, sugar and caffeine can make you feel physically much worse. Try to eat fruits or salads, it will help you to nourish the body with vitamins and give a good charge of energy.
- Do not forget that contemplation of bright colorscheers up. Take paint or pencils and paint. You do not need to be a great artist to find relief from stress through self-expression in art! Even just painting the pictures in the children's coloring book can be a very amusing and soothing exercise.
- Turn off the TV. If all your free time to watch it, then you will not only not have a rest, but you will get tired even more. Better spend an evening listening to good soothing music or even listen to the silence that is unusual for you. If you have children, use a time that will no longer take away your TV, for board games or other fun with your children. They will be very pleased, because they do not have enough attention to adults who are always busy with themselves!
Stress can affect the quality of your life. It can come from the circumstances surrounding you, or come from within. Whatever you are experiencing is stress, be sure to make every effort to get rid of stress. Manage your stress so that it does not start to control you!
