What Is Stress?

Stress is a natural part of the human make up.
Without the natural stress response our caveman
ancestors would not have been able to exist. When
facing physical dangers,such as a wild animal
attack, a quick reaction to the situation had to be
used to survive.

Today the threat is not so much physical: however
we still react with the same natural stress response
when threatened. The work place leaves very little
time to stop and evaluate each threat we perceive.

Most of the stress in the work place is caused by
ourselves. No one causes stress to you. The stress
comes from how you actually perceive a situation.
If you think a situation is a threat, then your body
reacts as if there is a physical threat. The body can
not tell if it is a physical threat or just a person
"barking" orders to you. The body reacts to all
threats in the same way, as a physical threat.

Symptoms include sweaty palms, knot in your stomach,
tense muscles , and nervous tension. Any little thing
will set you off. You snap out the answer when asked
a question, which starts the loss of control. Try
stopping the stress before it really gets serious.
Relaxing your mind is one way:

• Take a few seconds to think a pleasant thought;
  picture your favorite person, a special pet, or
  something funny, remember how good you felt.
• Slow your breathing: taking three slow deep
  breathes, counting to three when inhaling and exhaling.

Exercising your large muscles (legs)will also help.
Try these in the restroom if you aren't in a private
area. Use a sink or window sill to keep your balance.

• Jogging in place at a moderate or fast pace
  for 3 or 4 seconds
• Slowly marching in place , lifting your knees as
  high as you can. if you are able hold your knee
  up for a second.
• Slowly swing one leg forward with the toes
  pointing forward, swing the other leg, then
  swing your leg with the toes pointing up,
  swing the other legs with toes pointing up.

By refocusing your mind or relaxing your muscles
you will be able to break out of the stress cycle
and became calmer. Practicing these simple exercises
through the day will help to end your work day with
considerable less stress.