Combatting stress (1)

Friday 5th July 2024

‘You will be strong and free of fear.’ Job 11:15 NLT

When you ignore the warning signs, chronic stress can take a toll on your body. So what are some of the signals? Well for starters, your stomach churns at any form of disagreement. When you can’t find an outlet for pent-up frustration, you may resort to overeating, smoking, drinking, drugs and generally abusing your body. You isolate yourself, which affects your loved ones. Debora M. Coty writes about what she terms the ‘Three Fs: outward fussing, inward fuming and chronic fatigue’. She jokes, ‘I knew it was time to address my stress issues when my growl grew louder than the dog’s, and my family tactfully suggested I get a rabies shot.’

However, it’s the signs you don’t see that can do the most damage. Cortisol, a hormone our bodies release in the grasp of stress, adds to feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness. And studies verify that, over time, stress raises your blood pressure, contributes to migraines and tension headaches, and results in plaque that leads to heart disease. Chronic stress has been observed to increase cardiovascular risk, and is connected to alcoholism, anxiety attacks, asthma, cancer, colds, depression, flu, insomnia, obesity, strokes and ulcers. And those uncontrolled crying spells you have when you’re exhausted are no coincidence; stress can activate emotional outbursts.

If this describes you, take action! Rearrange your priorities, slow down, take control of your life and turn to God. When you ‘prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer…You will be strong and free of fear’ (Job 11:13, 15 NLT).