Terri Levine, The Guru of Coaching: Am I stressed?

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Am I stressed?

You don't know? Actually, that's not as silly as you might think. I was once asked "How can I determine what is true stress or if I just overreact to everything. Or does it not matter as long as a person feels stressed no matter what the source?"

This poor woman went on to confide that she felt overwhelmed most of the time. She was a stay at home mom, with 3 kids, ages 12, 3, and 1yr. She said she felt stressed by everyday tasks and events - things that she thought other people wouldn't react to. She also confessed to being something of a control freak and liked things a certain way. She liked a tidy house, but was stressed by having to keep it tidy all the time and also stressed if she didn't do it.

Actually, I think that last part is something most of us can relate to! But back to her stress...

True Stress is that state of overwhelm which affects you physically and mentally and renders one incapable of functioning without that sense of panic and urgency, an inability to relax. Her need to control and have things "just so" was exacerbating her problem. Mind you, not all stress is bad. Stress is your body's response to any change in its inner or outer environment. Even good things, such as a promotion at work or a new baby in the house can create stress. It's when you are faced with one stress period after another, with no time to relax in between, it can affect your physical and mental well-being.

Anyhow, if YOU don't know if you're stressed or not, here are some common symptoms of too much stress and not enough relaxation.