More Stress

It would seem, despite increases in technology, that stress continues to rise in Western society. The most recent poll conducted by the American Psychological Association, found that approximately half of all Americans were more stressed than they were 5 years previously. It also reported that 33% of all people in the US are living under extreme stress, while many reported physical symptoms (77%) or psychological symptoms (73%) related to stress in the previous month.

Physical symptoms of stress included: fatigue (51%); headache (44%); upset stomach (34%); muscle tension (30%); change in appetite (23%), teeth grinding (17%); change in sex drive (15%); and feeling dizzy (13%).

Psychological symptoms of stress included: experiencing irritability or anger (50%); feeling nervous (45%); lack of energy (45%); and feeling as though you could cry (35%). In addition, almost half (48%) of Americans report lying awake at night due to stress.

Sadly, most people surveyed said that they would only make necessary lifestyle changes after the diagnosis of a chronic condition rather than taking preventative measures.

"Stress in America continues to escalate and is affecting every aspect of people's lives — from work to personal relationships to sleep patterns and eating habits, as well as their health,” says psychologist Russ Newman, PhD, JD, APA executive director for professional practice. “We know that stress is a fact of life and some stress can have a positive impact, however, the high stress levels that many Americans report experiencing can have long-term health consequences, ranging from fatigue to obesity and heart disease.”

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2007/10/stress.aspx

The power of the mind

“One of the most intriguing aspects of both hysterical and psychosomatic disorders is that they tend to spread through populations in epidemic fashion, almost as if they were bacteriological in nature, which they are not. Edward Shorter, a medical historian, concluded from his study of the medical literature that the incidence of a psychogenic disorder grows to epidemic proportions when the disorder is in vogue. Strange as it may seem, people with an unconcious psychological need for symptoms tend to develop a disorder that is well known, like back pain, hay fever, or eczema. This is not a concious decision.”

Dr. John Sarno, The Divided Mind

Stress and worry

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have found that high levels of worry and anxiety in older men may increase the risk of coronary heart disease.

This problem is probably likely only to get worse, as worrying seems to be increasing due to many different factors in present day society. A study done done by Jean Twenge, Ph.D., between the 1950's and the 1980's seems to indicate this. In it children between 9 and 12 were asked to rate statements such as "I worry about what is going to happen". The study found that normal samples in the 1980's outscored psychiatric populations from the 1950's, meaning that our everyday anxiety now matches the diagnosed fears shown by those suffering from anxiety-related conditions back then.

The School recommends a number of steps which greatly reduce risks, including regular exercise and changes in diet.

Some effects of stress

People prone to negative emotions and stress may be 40% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, according to a study in Neurology. The authors hypothesize that a lifetime of stress could adversely affect the part of the brain responsible for regulating memory. To stop stress weakening your brain, researcher Dr Paul Nussbaum, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, recommends devoting 30 minutes a day to calming activities such as reading or, at a minimum, aim for 10 to 15 minutes of meditation.