What is stress?

Stress may be considered as any physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental unrest and that may be a factor in disease causation. Physical and chemical factors that can cause stress include trauma, infections, toxins, illnesses, and injuries of any sort. Emotional causes of stress and tension are numerous and varied. While many people associate the term "stress" with psychological stress, scientists and physicians use this term to denote any force that impairs the stability and balance of bodily functions.

If stress disrupts body balance and function, then is all stress bad? Not necessarily. A mild degree of stress and tension can sometimes be beneficial. For example, feeling mildly stressed when carrying out a project or assignment often compels us to do a good job, focus better, and work energetically.

Likewise, exercising can produce a temporary stress on some body functions, but its health benefits are indisputable. It is only when stress is overwhelming, or poorly managed, that its negative effects appear.

An important goal for those under stress is the management of life stresses. Elimination of stress is unrealistic, since stress is a part of normal life. It's impossible to completely eliminate stress, and it would not be advisable to do so. Instead, we can learn to manage stress so that we have control over our stress and its effects on our physical and mental health.

Who is most susceptible to stress?

Stress comes in all forms and affects people of all ages and all walks of life. No external standards can be applied to predict stress levels in individuals -- one need not have a traditionally stressful job to experience workplace stress, just as a parent of one child may experience more stress related to parenting than a parent of several children. The degree of stress in our lives is highly dependent upon individual factors such as our physical health, the quality of our interpersonal relationships, the number of commitments and responsibilities we carry, the degree of others' dependence upon and expectations of us, the amount of support we receive from others, and the number of changes or traumatic events that have recently occurred in our lives.

Some generalizations, however, can be made. People with strong social support networks (consisting of family, friends, religious organizations, or other social groups) report less stress and overall improved mental health in comparison to those without these social contacts. People who are poorly nourished, who get inadequate sleep, or who are physically unwell also have reduced capabilities to handle the pressures and stresses of everyday life and may report higher stress levels. Some stressors are particularly associated with certain age groups or life stages. Children, teens, working parents, and seniors are examples of the groups who often face common stressors related to life transitions.

People who are providing care for elderly or infirm loved ones may also experience a great deal of stress as caregivers. Having a loved one or family member who is under a great deal of stress often increases our own stress levels as well.
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BREATHE: Stop, Drop, and Breathe. Okay, maybe not “drop”, but definitely stop and breathe. When we’re uptight or straining ourselves we usually forget to do this. Start by taking a few deep breaths. Next, give this pranayama technique a try:

1) Inhale deeply.
2) Hold your breath for 4 seconds.
3) Exhale for count of 4 seconds.
4) Repeat. Continue this pattern for about one minute.

MOVE: Sometimes stress is so habitual that we have to literally shake it off. Stand up, extend your arms out and imagine that you’re a soggy wet dog and give yourself a good shake. If a good wiggle doesn’t work for you, go for a short walk and take in your surroundings.

SMILE (OR LAUGH): Give yourself a happy break. Just like whistling a happy tune, smile to fake a happy mood. Smiling sends a message to your unconscious mind and automatically generates a positive mood and attitude. If you fake happiness long enough, you might just start to believe that it’s true. If that isn’t working, pick up the paper for today’s comic strip or watch a 5-minute funny video on uTube.

TIGHTEN AND RELEASE: Lie flat on the floor. Starting with the feet: tighten and squeeze your feet as much as you can. Then move upward, tense and relax the ankles, calves, knees, thighs and entire body one by one. When you get to your head, lift the head off the ground and squeeze all the muscles of your face. Lie quietly for a minute afterward, noticing the change in your body and basking in the calm.

VISUALIZATION/MEDITATION: Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Imagine a bright red rose in front of you. Notice the vibrant petals, its color and its texture. See this rose clearly in your minds eye. Take another deep breath and smell the rose. Savor its scent and let it fill your body. Slowly open your eyes. Keep your eyes soft for just a minute longer, lingering on the beautiful rose.
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The one most important feature that every person takes pride is in their hair, and having a good mop of hair is a way of looking good and feeling great.

The one most important feature that every person takes pride is in their hair, and having a good mop of hair is a way of looking good and feeling great. As a person grows older, the hair growth gradually decreases and they need to take care of what they have to avoid hair loss from setting in. Since people give a lot of importance to external appearance, it is important to eat a balanced diet combined with regular exercise to maintain one’s skin and hair to preserve the good looks. There are plenty of hair products available in the market which are all aimed at helping a person take care of their hair and keep it in good condition. Hair products range from shampoos, conditioner, hair Apart from this; various other serums and oils are available to keep hair clean and rich.

It is said that after shampooing, a conditioner must be used to avoid hair from getting dry; or one can use the also leave-on potions available to keep hair tangle free and shining. There are wide arrays of brands that are into hair products, and the user needs to determine which suits their hair texture and scalp and then use those products only. If a person’s occupation requires for them to spend most of the time outdoors under the sun, they need to wear protective hats or apply sunscreen on hair to prevent it from getting burnt in the hot sun. All these apply not only to women, but also to men else they will be left with severe hair loss and other related woes which have no permanent cure. To promote hair growth, one can take medication such as vitamin pills, iron tablets, eat food rich in Vitamin C, D and A; or does oil massage regularly to increase blood supply in the scalp.

Some hair experts recommend that olive oil be warmed and massaged into the scalp, left overnight and then washed off with a light shampoo for best results. The advantage of this is that it not only keeps the roots of the hair healthy, but also leads to growth of thick strong strands. Increased usage of the hair products could be harmful, and lead to hair fall or thinness of the hair strands. Plus if a person is allergic to a certain chemical, they must be careful not to use any hair products that contain the same.

While traveling, it is advised that a person carry their own set of hair care products that they have been using regularly. This helps take care of hair even when away from home and not using alien products that could be strong or harmful. There are a select few who believe in preparing their own mixture of hair care products at home, they should carry enough to last them during the trip. These could be more effective as some of the store bought products could have more of chemicals and artificial coloring in them. It is therefore important to identify the hair type before choosing a hair care product off the shelves for long lasting luscious hair.

Make sure to use natural and safe products for your hair, to enjoy healthy lock of hair as you grow old.
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* Talk with someone about your feelings-anger, sorrow, and other emotions-even though it may be difficult.
* Don't hold yourself responsible for any disastrous event or be frustrated because you feel that you cannot help directly.
* Take steps to promote your own physical and emotional healing by staying active in your daily life patterns or by adjusting them. This healthy outlook will help yourself and your family. (i.e. healthy eating, rest, exercise, relaxation, meditation.)



* Maintain a normal household and daily routine, limiting demanding responsibilities of yourself and your family.
* Spend time with family and friends.
* Participate in memorials, rituals, and use of symbols as a way to express feelings.
* Use existing supports groups of family, friends, and church.
* Establish a family emergency plan. Feeling that there is something that you can do can be very comforting.

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