How do you manifest stress?

Lauren Miller //July 31, 2015//

How do you manifest stress?

Lauren Miller //July 31, 2015//

Do any of the following statements sound familiar?

  • Three-quarters of Americans experience symptoms related to stress in a given month, including:
  • 77 percent who experience physical symptoms
  • 73 percent who experience psychological symptoms1
  • One-third of Americans feel they are living with extreme stress:
  • About one-half of Americans (48 percent) 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).2
  • Physical symptoms of stress include:
  • Fatigue (51 percent)
  • Headache (44 percent)
  • Upset stomach (34 percent)
  • Muscle tension (30 percent)
  • Change in appetite (23 percent)
  • Teeth grinding (17 percent)
  • Change in sex drive (15 percent)
  • Dizziness (13 percent)3
  • Psychological symptoms of stress include:
  • Irritability or anger (50 percent)
  • Nervousness (45 percent)
  • Lack of energy (45 percent)
  • Feeling as though you could cry (35 percent)4
  • Stress impacts lives in dramatic ways, such as:
  • About one-half of Americans say that stress has a negative impact on both their personal and professional lives.
  • About one-third (31 percent) of employed adults have difficulty managing work and family responsibilities.
  •  Over one-third (35 percent) of employed adults cite jobs interfering with their family or personal time as a significant source of stress.
  • Stress causes more than half of Americans (54 percent) to fight with people close to them.
  • One in four people report that they have been alienated from a friend or family member because of stress.
  • 8 percent of Americans connect stress to divorce or separation.5
  • Workplace stress costs more than $300 billion each year in health care, missed work, and stress reduction.6
  • Workers who report that they are stressed incur health care costs that are 46 percent higher, or an average of $600 more per person, than other employees.7

Corporate stress is one of the most common forms of stress in our society. Public speaking, job security, lateral communication, absenteeism, meetings, time crunch/deadlines, performance reviews, quotas, budgets, phobias of crowds, closed spaces (elevators), and flying are among the top triggers of corporate stress.

Take action

Stress is simply a signal within your body that gives you the opportunity to identify and adjust your perception of any situation. You are not a victim to life unless you choose to be.

Practice being the observer of your life instead of the reactor. Practice becoming a curious human being about everything that unfolds before you. When you play the part of watcher, you begin to remember that you have time to consider how you want to respond. By your choices, you form your life, so choose wisely. Because we live in such a fast-paced society, we often fall victim to time. Carve out moments between what happens before you and your desired response to it. Practice slowing time down.

Perhaps you have an old pattern of thinking that says, “I need to move quickly and respond instantly in order to achieve or reach my goals.” Know this: If you created that program, you are in a position to change it to fit the kind of life you desire to create.

Ask yourself, “Am I living at a pace of life that lends itself to moments of inner peace?” If the answer is no, I invite you to reconsider the price you may pay on your physical well-being.

I am speaking from personal experience. As a Type A personality, I burned the candle at both ends, and my body could not keep up. Because I did not take the time to align myself spiritually, emotionally and physically, the random cancer cells had their way with me.

Infuse your days with moments of stillness. Take back your ability to slow down time and realign yourself with what you value most.