Understanding Stress - Melvin Feller MA Melvin Feller MA, is not only a business owner and mentor to others who are involved in businesses of all types but also a husband, father, grandfather, and a surviving victim of mental spousal abuse from his former marriage and of cancer. Melvin Feller loves life today and all it has to offer especially married now to one the most beautiful and kindest women he has ever known. Therefore, in reorganizing his life to make him a better person in both business and personally, he has now added the stresses of life to his mentoring and online adjunct teachings. He always starts out with the question of what is stress? Why because in order to understand it we must know its definition and knowing what it is allows us to stop it or readjust from letting it harm us. Therefore, what is stress; actually, it is the stress response of the body is meant to protect and support us. To maintain stability or homeostasis, the body is constantly adjusting to its surroundings. When a physical or mental event threatens this equilibrium, we react to it. This process is often referred to as the "fight or flight response." We prepare for physical action in order to confront or flee a threat. Our ancestors responded to stressful ordeals in this fashion. Millions of years later, when you face a situation that you perceive as challenging, your body automatically goes into overdrive, engaging the stress response. Immediately, you release the same hormones that enabled cave people to move and think faster, hit harder, see better, hear more acutely, and jump higher than they could only seconds earlier. Like theirs, your heartbeat speeds up; your blood pressure increases; your breathing quickens. Most modern stresses, however, do not call for either fight or flight. Our experience of stress is generally related to how we respond to an event, not to the event itself.

1. Understanding Stress and its Signs, Sources and Effects as Discussed by Melvin
Feller MA
Understanding Stress - Melvin Feller MA
Melvin Feller MA, is not only a business owner and mentor to others who are involved in
businesses of all types but also a husband, father, grandfather, and a surviving victim of mental
spousal abuse from his former marriage and of cancer. Melvin Feller loves life today and all it
has to offer especially married now to one the most beautiful and kindest women he has ever
known. Therefore, in reorganizing his life to make him a better person in both business and
personally, he has now added the stresses of life to his mentoring and online adjunct teachings.
He always starts out with the question of what is stress? Why because in order to understand it
we must know its definition and knowing what it is allows us to stop it or readjust from letting it
harm us.
Therefore, what is stress; actually, it is the stress response of the body is meant to protect and
support us. To maintain stability or homeostasis, the body is constantly adjusting to its
surroundings. When a physical or mental event threatens this equilibrium, we react to it. This

2. process is often referred to as the "fight or flight response." We prepare for physical action in
order to confront or flee a threat.
Our ancestors responded to stressful ordeals in this fashion. Millions of years later, when you
face a situation that you perceive as challenging, your body automatically goes into overdrive,
engaging the stress response. Immediately, you release the same hormones that enabled cave
people to move and think faster, hit harder, see better, hear more acutely, and jump higher
than they could only seconds earlier. Like theirs, your heartbeat speeds up; your blood pressure
increases; your breathing quickens. Most modern stresses, however, do not call for either fight
or flight. Our experience of stress is generally related to how we respond to an event, not to the
event itself.
When is stress a warning signal?
When it is part of a natural reaction to challenge or danger, the body’s response is called
positive stress. However, when you feel out of control or under intense pressure, you may
experience the physical, emotional, or relational symptoms brought on by negative stress.
These are the signs of stress that you need to recognize and control.
It is important to remain attentive to negative stress symptoms and to learn to identify the
situations that evoke them. When these symptoms persist, you are at risk for serious health
problems because stress can exhaust your immune system. Recent research demonstrates that
90% of illness is stress-related.
It is not possible to live without any stress. We can, however, learn ways to handle the stress of
daily life efficiently, and to manage our reactions to stress and minimize its negative impact.
What are the symptoms of stress?
Physical symptoms
Physical symptoms can be caused by other illnesses, so it is important to have a medical doctor
treat conditions such as ulcers, compressed disks, or other physical disorders. Remember,
however, that the body and mind are not separate entities. The physical problems outlined
below may result from or be exacerbated by stress:

3. • sleep disturbances
• back, shoulder or neck pain
• tension or migraine headaches
• upset or acid stomach, cramps, heartburn, gas, irritable bowel syndrome
• constipation, diarrhea
• weight gain or loss, eating disorders
• hair loss
• muscle tension
• fatigue
• high blood pressure
• irregular heartbeat, palpitations
• asthma or shortness of breath
• chest pain
• sweaty palms or hands
• cold hands or feet
• skin problems (hives, eczema, psoriasis, tics, itching)
• periodontal disease, jaw pain
• reproductive problems
• immune system suppression: more colds, flu, infections
• growth inhibition
Emotional symptoms
Like physical signs, emotional symptoms such as anxiety or depression can mask conditions
other than stress. It is important to find out whether they are stress-related or not. In either
case, the following emotional symptoms are uncomfortable and can affect your performance at
work or play, your physical health, or your relationships with others:
• nervousness, anxiety
• depression, moodiness
• “butterflies”
• irritability, frustration
• memory problems
• lack of concentration
• trouble thinking clearly
• feeling out of control
• substance abuse

4. • phobias
• overreactions
Relational symptoms
The antisocial behavior displayed in stressful situations can cause the rapid deterioration of
relationships with family, friends, co-workers, or even strangers. A person under stress may
manifest signs such as:
• increased arguments
• isolation from social activities
• conflict with co-workers or employers
• frequent job changes
• road rage
• domestic or workplace violence
• overreactions
Severe stress reactions that persist for long periods of time and recur without warning after a
traumatic event or even after an intense experience such as an accident, hospitalization, or
loss, may become a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) requiring professional assistance to
overcome.
What triggers your stress response?
Except for major catastrophes, few events are stressful in themselves. Stress arises when you
perceive a situation as threatening. For example, your morning commute may make you
anxious and tense because you worry that traffic will make you late. Others, however, may find
the trip relaxing because they allow more than enough time and enjoy playing music or
listening to books while they drive.
Stress is often associated with situations that you find difficult to handle. How you view things
also affects your stress level. If you have very high expectations, chances are you'll experience
more than your fair share of stress.

5. Take some time to think about the things that cause you stress. Your stress may be linked to
external factors such as:
• the state of the world, the country, or any community to which you belong
• unpredictable events
• the environment in which you live or work
• work itself
• family
Stress can also come from your own:
• irresponsible behavior
• poor health habits
• negative attitudes and feelings
• unrealistic expectations
• perfectionism
How serious are your stress symptoms?
Acute stress
In determining how to cope with your stress symptoms, it is helpful to know what type you are
experiencing. The most common form, acute stress results from demands and pressures of the
recent past and anticipated demands and pressures of the near future. The best way to
envision the effects of acute stress is to imagine oneself in a primitive situation, such as being
chased by a bear. In small doses, acute stress is thrilling and exciting, but too much is
exhausting. The same ski run that feels so great in the morning can be quite taxing at the end of
the day. Skiing beyond your limits can lead to falls and injuries. In the same way, too much
short-term stress can produce physical or emotional symptoms. Most people recognize the
signs of acute stress. They appear when something major happens like moving, changing jobs,
or experiencing a loss. You probably feel stressed when something goes wrong, such as when
your fender is crumpled in a car accident or your child has problems at school. Daily hassles
with a demanding boss, a nagging spouse or mentally abusive spouse, or irritating noise also
can make you feel stressed. Normally, as our ancestors did, our bodies rest when the stressful
event is over. Moreover, because it is short term, acute stress doesn't have enough time to do
the extensive damage associated with long-term stress.

6. Episodic acute stress
If you endure acute stress frequently, you probably are experiencing episodic stress. Your life
feels like a disorderly exercise in chaos and crisis. You are always rushing, always late. If
something can go wrong, it does. Trying to do too much, you can't organize the tangle of self-
inflicted demands clamoring for your attention. You are seemingly always facing a new stressful
situation.
Chronic stress
The grinding stress that wears people down day after day and year after year is chronic stress. It
destroys bodies, minds, and lives. It's the relentless stress of poverty, dysfunctional families, or
despised jobs. The people of Northern Ireland, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and
the Middle East live with the chronic stress engendered by their endless troubles. If you are
experiencing chronic stress, you can't figure out how to alleviate a miserable situation that
seems to go on for an interminable period of time. Devoid of hope, you stop searching for
solutions.
Some chronic stress stems from traumatic, early childhood experiences that change the brain
and become internalized, remaining forever present
and painful. These experiences can affect
personality profoundly. You create a belief system or
view of the world that causes you constant stress.
The worst aspect of chronic stress is that you get
used to it. You forget it's there and learn to endure
it.
Why should you learn to cope with stress?
In the best of all possible worlds, when a stressful situation ends, hormonal signals switch off
the stress response, and the body returns to normal. Unfortunately, stress doesn't always let
up. If you tend to harbor anxiety, and you worry about daily events and relationships, your
Business and Personal Stress - Melvin Feller MA

7. stress response never shuts down. Studies show that long-term activation of stress symptoms
can have a hazardous, even lethal effect on your body. When the signs of stress persist, you are
at risk for many health problems that people often do not realize are, in large part,
attributable to stress, such as:
• obesity
• heart disease
• cancer
• depression
• anorexia nervosa or malnutrition
• obsessive-compulsive or anxiety disorder
• substance abuse
• ulcers
• diabetes
• sexual abuse
• hyperthyroidism
• hair loss
• tooth and gum disease
As if this weren't enough, stress adversely affects reproduction, sexual behavior, and growth.
Stress inhibits the immune system, making you more vulnerable to colds, flu, fatigue and
infections. It causes digestive problems and can even lead to suicide.
For all these reasons, it is important to recognize the symptoms of stress and learn what to do
about them. Fortunately, recent years have brought increased societal awareness and a greater
understanding of factors that limit and relieve stress.
Living a more balanced life
You may be experiencing stress because your life has become out of balance. You may be
spending too much time and energy on work or on caring for others at the expense of your own
health and well-being. The following strategies can help you to live a more balanced and
stress-free life:
• delegating or sharing your responsibilities at work and at home

8. • avoiding difficult colleagues, family members, and acquaintances
• learning to be more assertive
• doing regular exercise
• not using drink or drugs to cope
• eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables
• finding humor or absurdity in stressful situations
• never taking on more than you know you can cope with
• organizing your time better to get as much done as possible
• talking to friends or family and sharing your thoughts and fears
• listening to music or relaxation tapes
• tensing and then relaxing your muscles, starting at the toes and working up to the head
and neck
Managing time and scheduling
It may also be necessary to reorganize your schedule in order to maintain a more balanced life.
Some strategies for time management include:
• Make a "to-do" list. Check items off as you complete them.
• Prioritize tasks and then work on the most important ones.
• Learn to say “no.”
• Delegate less important tasks.
• Schedule extra time for tasks, in case of interruptions.
• Take frequent breaks and schedule time for relaxation.
• Accepting support from others
One of the most effective things we can do when we are stressed is to talk from our heart to a
friendly listener who remains calm and listens in a way that makes us feel understood. Studies
show that people who are active socially are most capable of dealing with stressful situations
and major illnesses.
To help reduce stress, develop a network of friends and family members to turn to when stress
threatens to overwhelm you. If you are a naturally private or independent person, it might
seem challenging to build a support system. In order to cultivate a circle of friends, you need to
take the first step. Your efforts to create a strong social network will serve you well when you
are confronted with serious stress.

9. • Think of individuals who care about you and with whom you can share your most
personal thoughts.
• Reach out to the people you feel close to. Call them; make dates to see them; be open
and available to them. Let them love you.
• Be sure to include some people at least a generation younger than you so that you
won't outlive your buddies and be left alone.
• Build relationships based on emotional honesty. Members of your inner circle should
know how to listen without judging you, giving advice, or comparing your experiences to
theirs.
• Developing coping skills for stress relief
• Your attitude has a lot to do with whether events and occurrences produce a feeling of
stress. Once you admit that you are not able to control everything, you will be better
equipped to handle unexpected situations. Stress management comes down to finding
ways to change your thinking and manage your expectations.