Stress is the way we deal with our many demands and while good stress can actually improve our productivity and help us get through our workload, uncontrolled stress can lead to ill health.
Stress that is not managed can lead to diseases such as heart attacks and stomach ulcers as well as obesity and diabetes, according to Liberty Medical Adviser Dr Philippa Peil who adds that even the common cold and frequent bouts of flu can be signs of a stressed out body.
Liberty claim statistics show that stress is one of the main drivers behind disability claims especially when it comes to musculoskeletal and mental illnesses. Chronic back pain is often a result of prolonged stress which creates inflammation in the body while stress-related anxiety can lead to more serious mental conditions such as depression.
A study in the US last year by the American Institute of Stress in New York City found that uncontrolled stress has a physical impact on more than 77% of people while just over 70% suffer psychologically. Stress-related health care and lost working hours cost employers in the US more than $300 billion annually.
Dr Dorrian Aiken, part-time lecturer in the field of coaching and leadership development at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), emphasis that the negative outcomes around stress are a result of not managing stress rather than the stress itself.
“Stress in not necessarily a bad thing, and indeed gives many of us the focus we need to get an important job done. It is important to recognise that stress, per se, is not necessarily evil,” says Aiken who adds that pioneering endocrinologist Hans Selye, who first defined stress as a physical condition, observed that “without stress, there would be no life”. The challenge is to strike a balance, to have sufficient stress to perform optimally, but with time to rest and recover. If stress levels are left uncontrolled it can change the chemistry of our bodies leading to illness. Continuous stress releases high levels of cortisol and adrenalin into our bodies which in turn reduces our immune system as our bodies stop the constant production of new cells.
How to combat stress
The first symptoms of stress may include increased or decreased appetite, headaches, fatigue and sleep problems. As individuals become anxious and struggle to control stress they are unable to deal with issues on a day-to-day basis and may even “fall to pieces”.
“Procrastination, struggling to make decisions, becoming overwhelmed by their workload and starting to withdraw are all indicators of burnout. There is a danger too of substance abuse, particularly the abuse of over-the counter medication such as sleeping tablets, followed by another tablet to help them wake up in the morning,” says Aiken.
If you recognise any of these symptoms, it is a signal that you need to start listening to your body. You need to take care of yourself both physically and mentally so that you can manage stress to serve you, not destroy you:
Create healthy habits: Make regular exercise part of your routine – even if it is just a half hour walk each day. Find a hobby that totally absorbs your attention, taking your mind away from work and your other stresses.
Take leave: A recent study by Ipsos Global and Reuters found that as many as 53% of the country’s working population are not taking their annual leave and this is leading to increased stress levels. Taking leave is not only important for the individual, but also for their family.
Meditate: Studies have found that the consistent practice of meditation can improve reduced immune function. “Some of the symptoms of burnout are increased muscular pain and joint inflammation, often resulting in broken sleep due to constant body discomfort. Meditation has shown to reduce levels of pro-inflammatory genes, resulting in faster physical recovery from stress-related conditions,” says Dr Aiken.
Take action: Identify what areas of your life are creating stress and focus on one at a time. If, for example, you have financial difficulties, meet with a financial adviser to help you put a financial plan in place to sort out your finances. Dr Aiken suggests involving your family in helping you share the daily responsibility you might be carrying on your own; also set boundaries both personally and in the workplace.
Find a mentor: Dr Aiken says a good starting point is to find a mentor, a coach or a trusted confidant to help you begin to examine and reframe some of the – probably untrue – assumptions that cause you to drive yourself beyond a healthy level of endurance.