Stress is the way we respond to change.
Stress can be good. Think about how winning a lottery might boost your
senses. Some people like the feeling of stress and thrill they get
from a roller coaster ride or a white-water rafting trip. Yet stress
does not always end in this feeling of cheerful excitement. When stressed,
our breathing speeds up, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises and
our heart pounds faster. The body’s reaction to endless stress
is puzzling. Both body and mind have limits where stress can become
harmful.
Stress could mean the
difference between being able to get pregnant or not. Over time, stress
can change a woman’s biological clock - her menstrual cycles
and the timing of an egg being released. In men, stress can play with
hormone levels and with the amount of sperm they produce. These changes
are short-term and can be turned around once stress is controlled.
Your
life
Everyone reacts to stress differently. Understanding how stress affects
you is the first step in learning how to manage it.
Did
health make your list?
Finding a balance in life can help us manage stress. Look at your family and
work situation and find new ways to share roles or tasks, or learn to make the
most of things you can’t change. Make changes in your life to decrease
stress before pregnancy. Chronic stress along with the lack of social support
is related to a baby being born too early or too small.
• your
health care provider
• social worker
• family counsellor
• psychologist
• employee assistance program
at your work
•
I feel worried or anxious.
•
I get sick more often.
•
I sleep too much or have trouble
sleeping.
•
I can’t concentrate or
make decisions.
•
I have an unexplained physical
problem like headaches, diarrhea or heart flutters.
•
I am too sensitive (I cry or
have angry outbursts).
•
I am sad or irritable.
•
My mind wanders throughout
the day.
•
My appetite changes.
•
I am unusually tired.
•
I feel restless.
•
I take alcohol, medications or
other drugs to relax.
•
other:
Your “stress quiz” answers might be
a sign that your stress level is too high for your health and
well being. You can find ways to manage stress. Below, fill in
some that would work for you. Plan to relax!
