Because stress affects our immune system, which protects us from many serious illnesses. The majority of visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related complaints and disorders. (75-90%)
Recent research confirmed the role of stress in cardiovascular diseases, cancer, gastrointestinal, skin, neurological and emotional disorders and a host of disorders linked to immune system disturbances, ranging from the common cold and herpes, to arthritis, cancer and AIDS.
The health-related risks of stress make the Grump Out more than just an unusual day.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
It's estimated that 6 million to 10 million CHILDREN per year suffer from school-related stress. It can affect the physical, emotional, social, intellectual and academic well-being of students. High stress levels can interfere with a student's motivation, attention and memory, jeopardizing the entire learning process.
By participating in the Great American Grump Out, students will not only improve their health but their attitudes, too.
Sign our Guestbook
Just what is STRESS?
Long, long ago, there was a caveman. One day, while he was hunting berries for lunch, a saber-tooth tiger suddenly appears. The tiger is hunting for lunch, too. YOU
His brain automatically tells his body. “Hey, we need some help here. STAT.” Luckily for him his body is equipped with a powerful set of automatic weapons in the event of an emergency. Like magic, within seconds, his body becomes supercharged to help him “FIGHT” or “FLEE.” The hormone adrenalin is pumped into his system at the rate of two hits per second. He can run faster, hit harder, hear better, see better and jump higher.
All systems not needed to Fight or flee shut down. Digestion stops, the immune system is temporarily shut off, and excess waste is eliminated to make him light on his feet. (Sometimes a person becomes so scared he wets his pants.)
Fast forward to today. Man is walking around with essentially the same internal body parts, only now the brain triggers this “FIGHT” or “FLEE” response to simple things like someone taking his parking space. Adrenalin is pumped into his body, just as it did for the caveman.
Every time your brain triggers this fight or flight response, for situations that are NOT TRULY life threatening, you are experiencing a false-alarm. Too many false-alarms can lead to stress related disorders. Many people trigger a stress response just in the ANTICIPATION of a situation or event that never happens.
So the next time someone takes your parking space, think twice and give your body a rest.
Email: jan1smile@aol.com
For more information on stress,
Click:
Adult Stress
National Mental Health Association
Wartime Stress and Military Families
Children and Post Traumatic Stress
Caregiver Stress
Humor and Stress
Here are two boxes. One box has vertical black and white stripes. The other has horizontal black and white stripes. If any of the lines in either box look fuzzy or wavy, you are currently under too much stress.
1. Family conversations often begin with, “Put the gun down, and then we can talk.” If you scored 0-9, your life is much too uncomplicated.
Click: Grump Out
Stress Test
To find out if you are stressed out, and therefore grumpy, see how you stack up on the stress meter.
2. The school principal has your number on speed-dial.
3. The cat is on Valium.
4. People have trouble understanding your kids because they learned to speak through clenched teeth.
5. You are trying to get your 4-year-old to switch to decaf.
6. The number of jobs held down by family members exceeds the number of people in the family.
7. No one has time to wait for the microwave.
8. “Family Meetings” often are mediated by law enforcement officials.
9. You have to check your kid’s day-timer to see if he can take out the trash.
10. Maxwell House gives you industrial rates.
Guestbook
Joe the Grump
