Stress disorders have many faces: vertigo attacks, or heart rhythm disorders, irritable stomach or high blood pressure, menstrual problems, ringing in the ears.
Other symptoms can even be impotence or recurring colds and fatigue, of course.
No wonder that the world health organization (WHO), the occupational Stress as a cause of illness even to “one of the greatest dangers of the 21st century. Century,” has been appointed.
Because the company is always stressed: And the Federal chamber of psychotherapists (BPtK) determined on the basis of health insurance data, that of the psychologically-related absence from work in the period from 2000 to 2012 has almost doubled.
“The increasing burden in the world of work, digitization, fast pace and social change lead to numerous Stress-related diseases,” says Christoph Haurand, chief physician of the clinic for Internal medicine and cardiology, Bergmannsheil and children’s hospital Buer in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Who lives in addition to social Stress in the profession of Trouble in the Private experienced, is particularly at risk.
A heritage from the stone age
But why Stress makes you sick? It starts with the so-called stress nerve sympathetic nervous system and the stress hormones adrenaline and Cortisol. They increase muscle tension, accelerate the pulse and raise the blood pressure.
“Adrenaline puts the body in a position to mobilise extremely quickly to energy and Cortisol is able to the increased activity over a long period of time to maintain,” explains Haurand.
In the stone age, this body response was useful – to prepare for fight or flight. According to the physical activity of rest followed by phases of recovery in the domestic cave. Today, however, the body’s own mechanisms enable the organism for hours on alert.
Thus, the duration of the alarm is, among other things, the Foundation stone for stroke and heart attack. Cortisol also promotes a water retention in the body and causes Obesity.
Obesity (obesity) in the case of some Top managers is not due, therefore, solely on the many rich business dinners and alcohol, but also to permanent Stress. Also, Cortisol suppresses the immune system, which is why Stress manifests in the Form of cold sores or blemished skin.
Beautiful moments as a compensation
But there is also positive Stress? The stress hormones adrenaline and Cortisol are also secreted at birthdays, weddings, or professional and private Successes, explains Matthias Less, medical psychotherapist and Director of the Institute for stress medicine of Rhine-Ruhr.
However, the stress response is only of short duration. “After that, Serotonin, and endorphins are released, which lead to feelings of happiness, emotional Balance, rational Thinking and good decisions.”
Therefore, it is important to provide regularly for beautiful moments in everyday life. A Meeting with friends, sports activities, theatre, cinema or concert visits, painting classes, dance circles, choral singing – the imagination has no limits. Cuddling and stroking each will be distributed in addition, the anti – stress and bonding hormone Oxytocin.
“Our partners, provide emotional support, what is the health benefit. In fact, the life exceeds maintenance of Married the the unbound contemporaries by several years,” says Prof. Thomas Klein, one of the researchers in Heidelberg at the Max-Weber-Institute for sociology.
“In addition, the social control by the Partner before health preserved damaging behavior and promotes a healthy life style.”
In the gallery: The 11 best tips to fight Stress
Meditating alone is not enough
With or without a Partner – to the positive shaping of everyday life relaxation techniques such as autogenic Training, progressive muscle relaxation, Meditation, Yoga or mindfulness training. Regular relaxation exercises are not enough, however, to typical occupational stress wegzumeditieren factors – personal responsibility or be liable for large sums of money.
Matthias Less advises, therefore, in principle, from the rat race to step out and have a spontaneous satisfaction, check with a self-survey to perform: “I’m happy with my relationship status? I’m happy with my world of work? What I really want?”
Text: Claudia Bignion
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)
*The contribution of “Dangerous development: So sick Stress can make you nowadays, really” is published by FitForFun. Contact with the executives here.