When did "Stress" become a disease?

Posted by Leticia, 12 Mar

Is it me or does every doctor you go to...eye, teeth, back, etc., ask the question "are you under any stress"? Who isn't under some kind of stress at some point in time? Even my little 8-year old niece has stress. We know what it is, its effects of stress on the body,...the question is how do you deal with it?

Is it me or have we become a society of labels? We have a name for everything, every feeling every disorder, every would-be, possible, can-it-be ailment. My favorite is stress. If you're late for a deadline, blame it on stress, tired and fatigued, stress, lack of sexual desire, too much desire not enough sex, can't sleep or sleep too much, stress, stress, stress.

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According to the American Institute of Stress (yes, such a place exist). "Stress is difficult for scientist to define because it is a subjective sensation associated with varied symptoms that differ for each of us." In human babble, that really means that we all handle situations differently. What may cause one person to be "stressed out" could be the very same thing that drives another person to achieve greatness.

Some say that the right amount of stress actually adds value to our lives if we learn how to use it to our advantage. That would be the million dollar question, how do we use stress in a positive non-destructive way? Well, the best that I can come up with from my non-doctor degree having background is to first figure out the source of the stress.

Let's take one of my few female friends. She is a single mother of a very active 8-year old. I'm sure I've talked about her before. It seems that as of late she's been stressed out about not having enough "me time", baby-daddy drama and all that comes with raising a child alone. On one hand the stress has propelled her to make some changes for the better. She went back to school to get her masters and changed careers. She knew she needed to make more money and have better opportunities. However, all that comes with another set of stresses. Now, she doesn't have any free time, much energy and still no man in the picture.

As many of you know, you hardly ever find a man or woman when you are really in need of one. The word desperation comes to mind. When you stop "stressing" about finding someone and allow yourself to be alone...that's when potential suitors come out of the woodwork. Then that leads to the stress of dating. Does it ever end?

Here's my way of dealing with stress. Tackle it head on. I use to ignore it but for some reason, just like creditors it didn't go away. So, I started to deal with the "I don't want to deal with this" issues right away. The things that I could change, I'd change. The ones that I couldn't do a thing about, I did nothing about them, including worry...why bother, it never changed anything.

Try it for one week. You will be amazed how dealing with and not ignoring stress changes your life. Then again if it doesn't work, you could always go to the doctor and get a pill for it.

29 responses to "When did "Stress" become a disease?"

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  1.   Pia65 says:
    Posted: 16 Aug 08

    Its unfortunate, but I think the pharmaceutical companies are in charge of creating the terms of what should be considered a "syndrome", etc. The medical profession depends on the pharmaceutical companies to dole out the lastest product for you as the consumer to try.....While I am on the subject....I wonder if we should stop calling them DOCTORS (M.D.)and start calling them PRACTICING PHYSICIANS (P.P.) ....after all that what they are doing to us....practicing and hoping they get it right for us as their patient. Western medicine should take a more natural look at Eastern medicine which are just that....NATURAL...like meditation for instance. If we "practice" that form of medicine it would go a long way in keeping clam through a "stressful" situation....Natural is always better than taking a "pill" which is a band-aid which over time can create a bigger problem. BUT they can't face loosing money by making people healthy. And...all pills have side effects...it just depends on how they effect or not effect you...

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  2.   Naturalgal says:
    Posted: 12 Jun 08

    I just power up the ole Playstation 2, pop in God of War, or similar type game...hack and slash some bosses(monsters/bad guys) and I am good to go! LOL!

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  3.   sweetnes20 says:
    Posted: 25 Apr 08

    Don't worry honey you are.

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  4.   unme23 says:
    Posted: 22 Apr 08

    I better be sweetnes!!!!

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  5.   kenyanito says:
    Posted: 14 Apr 08

    Stress is distasteful...but i manage to weather it

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  6.   SWEETNES20 says:
    Posted: 12 Apr 08

    I guess your loved unme.

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  7. Posted: 11 Apr 08

    I hate when that happens!!

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  8.   unme23 says:
    Posted: 07 Apr 08

    Great another stalker....lmao

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  9.   outpass35 says:
    Posted: 04 Apr 08

    Stress is a daily part of our lives I just learn to let the most stressful things roll off my back.

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  10.   SWEETNES20 says:
    Posted: 03 Apr 08

    Thats too funny mossimo, You know you were checking him out!!

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  11. Posted: 02 Apr 08

    im a full time student with an income below the poverty line and no job. my life is a circle of stress, but i realize that i unless i get a job or by some miracle win the lottery i will just have to deal with this mess, and that has helped ease the situation some

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  12.   mossimo36 says:
    Posted: 31 Mar 08

    Dang, I clicked on sweetnes20 and it sent me to unme23's profile. That is just not right. I was not peepin you unme!!

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  13.   sweetnes20 says:
    Posted: 28 Mar 08

    Yes that would be nice mossimo...lol

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  14.   Sharon says:
    Posted: 27 Mar 08

    Stress is a killer...it triggers many things. High blood pressure, diabeties, immune diseases, just to name a few! Southen smiles Sharon

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  15.   mossimo36 says:
    Posted: 25 Mar 08

    U need help with that headache sweetness?

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  16.   fkoi says:
    Posted: 24 Mar 08

    There is no doubt that we have become a nation of sissies. That is probably because we have so much time on our hands and so little real stress. Imagine being part of a nomadic tribe on the Great Plains in the 1800s. It is the dead of winter. Knee-deep snow as far as the eye can see. Hunger is always an issue. Now, there are no buffalo to be found and most of the dogs have been eaten. You have no idea where the company of bluecoats seen recently in the area has gone. That's stress. Or let's say you are one of the early settlers in upstate New York, or Western Pennsylvania, Colorado etc. Torrential rains are pouring down and damp winds are coming in every crack in the log cabin. Nature calls. That means a trip out into the night where cougars, bears, bandits and pissed-off natives live. Oh yeah, there might be snakes in the privy. That's stress. If you take the view, "Life is hard and then you die," that's exactly what you get. Life is a gift but you have to unwrap it. No matter how hard your life may be, there is always someone who has it worse. Except the last guy. Sucks to be him.

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  17.   Curious57 says:
    Posted: 24 Mar 08

    Stress is something we all do through out our entire lives. People handle stress differently and some stresses are worse than others to certain people. I know the stress I have at the moment seems unexplainable, but really the answer is to face the truth and either accept it or fix it. It is something many of us can’t get over when we are in denial or when we don’t even know what we are really stressing over.

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  18.   sweetnes20 says:
    Posted: 23 Mar 08

    i know stress gives me wicked headaches!!

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  19.   UNME23 says:
    Posted: 23 Mar 08

    YOU KNOW I GOTS PLENTY OF LOVE FALA!!!

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  20.   Fala says:
    Posted: 22 Mar 08

    Come on Unme - give this article the Love it needs!

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  21.   sweetnes20 says:
    Posted: 21 Mar 08

    Ok Fala, I will let you know....lol!!

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  22.   unme23 says:
    Posted: 21 Mar 08

    Wheres all the luv for this article??

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  23.   patrice says:
    Posted: 20 Mar 08

    I was in the British Army for 26 years when I first heard of all this stress syndrome and we referred to it as "Civilians Disease". I am now a civilian and noticed how everyone uses the stress word for everything as if its the in-word. We are all under pressure for one thing or another at some time in our lives, so why do we succumb to it? I think it has become a safety net as a reason for not organising ourselves and not dealing with situations as they arise rather than "stress ourselves out" about something which hasnt happened or may never happen. Stress can also manifest itself in so many other illnesses. Perhaps we should relearn how to take things in our stride today and dont worry about tomorrow.

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  24.   party1 says:
    Posted: 19 Mar 08

    With more responsibilities come more stress,,, its all relative.Having poise under pressure comes from experience and faith.Thinking ahead,preparing and delegating help reduce potential catstrophes.Some people perform much better when the heat is turned up a notch or two.

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  25.   Fala says:
    Posted: 18 Mar 08

    Let me know how it went, and I'll try it for a day.

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  26. Posted: 16 Mar 08

    Well let me know guys how it went, maybe i'll try it for 3 weeks.

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  27.   SWEETNES20 says:
    Posted: 16 Mar 08

    I will try it for 2 weeks..lol

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  28.   unme23 says:
    Posted: 13 Mar 08

    great article, thanks!!

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  29.   mossimo36 says:
    Posted: 13 Mar 08

    Great advice. I will give it a try for a week.

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