Stress and the City
Today's hectic pace of life has not been kind to our bodies. In
fact, modern day city life seems to add more and more stress to
the mix. We run ragged from one thing to another and sacrifice
our mental peace in the process. But what exactly is this entity
called stress? Medically, stress is a psychological and physical
response produced by our body when the demands faced by it are
more than what it can cope with. It manifests itself in fatigue,
insomnia, general irritability, hypertension and in some cases,
even depression. Prolonged nervous tension is especially harmful
to the body as it can lead to heart disease and even
neurologicall damage. The reasons for stress are many. They can
be related to your work or your personal life. This kind of
anxiety can lead to a poor job performance and even impair your
ability to cope with daily life. Most patients have been found
to suffer from work related stress disorders. The sources of
this kind of tension are many - downsizing, looming deadlines,
strained relation with co-workers or your boss etc. job security
has become a worrying issue and the recent recession in the
economy does not help. Also, we are now forced to cope with
increased productivity targets. This, more often than not leads
to more time being spent at the office. The 1997 National Study
of the Changing Workforce (NSCW) reported that in comparison
with other industrialized nations, the average American worker
spends more time on his job. Family conflicts can also add to
this kind of tension. A recent divorce or death of a loved one
can push people into depression. Anxiety related with financial
matters is enough to give any body sleepless nights. Also,
generational clash between parents and their children can
escalate the stress potential. Not only this, the city which is
chock full of people never allows a moment of respite to its
inhabitants. Who among us has not experienced long traffic jams
on the freeways or some modicum of road rage - all induced by
our hurry to reach someplace on our time. This constant game of
catching up with time - be it a professional deadline or your
child's soccer practice - frays our patience. The result is a
crabby disposition and loss of patience with those around us.
You need to approach stress with a systematic change in your
lifestyle. Take deep breaths when a panic attack threatens to
overtake you. This will help you to control your anxiety. This
is merely the first step. You need to identify the source of
this tension and then work towards dealing with it in a helpful
and not giving in to depression or anxiety. Also, avoid
ingesting stimulants like coffee. They merely 'key' you up and
are a source of unwanted anxiety. A healthy diet, chock-full of
nutrients, helps your body maintain its balance and cope with
stress. You might want to consider adding supplements to your
daily medication. It has been seen that a diet deficient in
minerals and vitamins imbalances our nervous system. A good
product, which can help make up for some of these kinds of
dietary requirements, is Anxietol 7