The Truth Between the Lines: Stress Statistics

Stress is a commonly-heard term. Both in psychology and the medical fields, stress is an ailment that affects more people than most other disorders. In the work place, the home and the classroom, men and women suffer daily from the symptoms and long-term consequences of stress. Sadly, most people ignore stress; they figure it a normal part of life, an unavoidable partner in crime of fast-paced, professional lifestyles. Yet stress statistics prove that stress is more harmful than the average person realizes, and that it is far more preventable, and far less required, than the average person believes.

Finding the Cause

Stress statistics, if anything, have proven that stress is a growing problem. Not only is it more common in every walk of life, it is increasingly serious as well. Stress can lead to immune system deficiencies, as well as loss of sleep, depression and sometimes, in severe cases, death from heart attacks, strokes or suicide. Stress statistics illustrate that while some people are more prone to stress due to their lifestyles or professions, everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives, some far more than they should.

Most stress is preventable. However, do to the pressure of contemporary life, preventing stress is far from easy. Individuals are pushed to succeed, to make money, to buy big houses and raise big families. People take on far more than they can handle, and as stress statistics prove, this takes its toll. Not only are more and more people stressed, more and more people are on medication, in therapy and are suffering from physical ailments that could easily be remedied by a new outlook on life or a completely new life direction. The working world now is so fast-paced that people rarely have time for meals period; add to that the stress of constant competition and the body can barely make it.

Aside from the negatives such as causes, symptoms and consequences, stress statistics also provide a look into the cures for stress. While some methods work better for others, most stress relief tools can be done in the comfort of the home, without therapy or medications. Daily self-control strategies can help calm the body and the mind before stress takes over. Things as simple as counting or deep breathing can cleanse the soul, releasing tension from muscles and anxiety from the stomach. Stress statistics help to show exactly how important these small steps are in preventing a larger problem. While stress can lead to devastating illnesses, those illnesses will never happen if the stress is stopped before it gains that kind of power.