Stressed? You are not alone!

October 25th, 2007

According to a survey from the American Psychological Association, nearly 1 in 3 US adults report “extreme stress” in their lives.  Not only is there a report in “extreme stress”, but they feel stress over half the days in a month and their levels of stress have increased almost 50% over the last five years.  Not only are US adults more stressed, they are suffering physically, emotionally, and professionally as a result. 

 Most participants - 82% - say they manage their stress well, however, do report stress causes problems with their physical and mental health, work and relationships.  Physical problems such as fatigue, headache, upset stomach and muscle tension as well as mental problems including irritability, nervousness, anger and lack of energy. 

And how do we deal with these stressors??  We eat, smoke, drink and don’t sleep.  Nearly 50% of the participants report losing sleep and overeating, particularly candy and chocolate.  Where is the stress coming from?  Work is the number one stressor with money coming in at a close second. 

In the article, the American Psychological Association gives tip for managing stressors - without reaching for the nearest bag of chips!

• Understand how you experience stress. 
• Identify your sources of stress.
• Learn your own stress signals.
• Recognize how you deal with stress.
• Find healthy ways to manage stress.
• Take care of yourself.
• Reach out for support.

Entry Filed under: Healthy Lifestyle Research, Diabetes and Chronic Disease