Inform Article

Are You Stressed?

05.11.2010
Posted by Pam Gionfriddo of Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County
Download: 2007-stress

Are you feeling stressed?  Do you know what stress is??  Stress is any situation that results in a physical reaction of the body – it’s how your body responds to everyday challenges as well as to more threatening situations.   If you are suffering from stress, you are not alone!  According to a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2007, three quarters of Americans experience symptoms related to stress in a given month, with 77% experiencing physical symptoms and 73% experiencing psychological symptoms.

Some other statistics from the APA report that you might find interesting:

  • One-third of Americans feel they are living with extreme stress.
  • About half of Americans (48%) feel that their stress has increased over the past five years.
  • Money and work are the leading causes of stress (mentioned by three quarters of Americans).
  • About half of Americans (48%) report lying awake at night due to stress.

If you experience high levels of stress in your life, there are things that you can do to quickly and effectively increase your prevention and coping skills.   The obvious, and often most difficult one, is to resolve the underlying cause of the emotional stress, but others, including physical exercise, time management, relaxation techniques, and simply talking to friends are all things that we can do to relieve stress.

And if you’re finding that you can’t manage stress on your own, there are plenty of resources in our community to assist you.  The Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County has a list of resources available in our community, and sponsors workshops on how to cope with stress.  Don’t let stress take over your life – It’s Okay to Get Help!