When is Stress Too Stressful?

It is my opinion that our brains have not evolved sufficiently to cope effectively with the amount of stimulation to which we are exposed. Think of the complex decisions we make every day. Have you ever listened to the orders ahead of you in line at Starbucks? "Triple venti sugar free vanilla soy, extra hot, no foam latte". "Ice tall in a grande cup, 2 sugars in the raw, 1 pump peppermint, 1 pump mocha, 1/2 caf, 1/2 decaf!". Is there room in our brain for all this?

All of us are stressed to some degree. We lack balance in our lives. Look at the topics in women's magazines. There are articles on how to relax, how to get organized, and how to make time for oneself. We have strayed too far away from the hunting of the caveman or the farmer rising at sunrise, doing physical chores and going to bed soon after dark. Man used to follow natural rhythms. There were no Blackberries, computers, or Internet back then to overload the brain with constant information. What has happened to moments of stillness when we are in awe of a sunset? When did you last notice the beauty of a butterfly when it spreads its wings? These are the moments that put us in touch with our roots, the earth.

The stresses we experience are multifactorial. There is the stress of trying to juggle work with the demands of raising children and maintaining a home. Add to this the stress of finances, health problems, marital problems, caring for elderly parents, traffic etc. Our newest stress is perceiving danger in our world. The daily news bombards us with information that puts our brains on "alert". What will kill us? Will it be terrorists, Mad Cow Disease, West Nile virus, a Tsunami, a hurricane, mechanical failure of a plane, breathing unhealthy air?

At what point are you, the rubber band, stretched so tight that you snap? Has your worry evolved into an Anxiety Disorder? This is a key question. Some amount of worry or anxiety is normal. For example, every one has some degree of worry before an exam. Anxiety motivates us to study in order to do well on a test. What if you have so much anxiety you cannot concentrate? Think of the caveman running away from a bear. As the bear ran after him, his brain released epinephrine. His heart rate went up, his sense of time slowed, his focus increased, and blood flow was diverted to his muscles to help him run away from the bear. In this case, the flight/flight response saved his life.

Ask yourself; do you ever feel like you are running from a bear? Does your mind and body tend to react to every day situations like the cave man I described? Do you ever feel your heart pounding when you are late for work or after a poor work review with your boss? Do you feel physical tension after a fight with your spouse? These symptoms represent an exaggerated response to a perceived threat. These are symptoms of anxiety, not worry. If your constant worry leads to physical tension, increased blood pressure, chest tightness, shallow breathing, irritability, or insomnia, you are at risk of developing an Anxiety Disorder.

What are the Anxiety Disorders? When a psychiatrist says you have an Anxiety Disorder, it means you have specific symptoms that are outlined in a diagnostic manual called the DSM lV TR. Some Anxiety Disorders have a genetic basis. The Anxiety Disorders are the most common mental illness in America. 40 million people over the age of 18 in the U.S. suffer from an Anxiety Disorder. The prevalence is increasing. The Anxiety Disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Phobia, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Specific Phobia Disorders.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by chronic excessive worry that is difficult to control. One cannot relax. Worry consumes each day. There are chronic aches and pains.

Panic Disorder is characterized by spontaneous panic attacks in which the person experiences increased heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, fear of dying, or fear of losing control. These symptoms lead to increased anxiety that another attack will occur. The anticipation of another attack may lead to avoidance of situations or places where this may occur. For example, if one has a panic attack at the grocery store, one does not want to return there for fear it will happen again. Some people even become housebound.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) includes recurring, irrational thoughts that one cannot control or repetitive compulsions that one cannot control such as hand-washing or re-checking door locks. For example, the person may have obsessions that he or she will get a terminal illness despite excellent health. An example of a compulsion is eating 3 cookies at a time because three is a lucky number and two is unlucky. These thoughts or behaviors interfere with daily life and relationships.

Social Phobia involves the experience of panic symptoms in situations where the person fears he or she will be humiliated in front of people such as giving a presentation or attending a social event. The symptoms interfere with one's life. For example, a promotion at work is lost because the individual avoids presentations and client dinners that put him or her on the spot.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts of a trauma, flashbacks, feelings of detachment, loss of interest in activities, and hyper vigilance. Rape or surviving a natural disaster can lead to PTSD.