STRESS AND OVEREATING
Stress, tension, fear, worry, and anxiety increase your chances of illness. 70% to 80% of all illnesses seen by physicians are either caused by stress, or made worse by stress. Which of these stressful events have you experienced in the past year?
- Death of spouse, close friend or relative
- Divorce, separation, reconciliation
- Minor law violation, arrest, or jail
- Loss of job, new job, business change
- Change in work hours, conditions
- Financial setback, foreclosure, loans
- Move, change in residence, living conditions
- Retirement of self or spouse
- Medical problem: self or family member
- Traffic jam, accidents, near accidents
- Pregnancy, birth, sexual problems
- Children leaving home
- Spousal, in-law, or boss troubles
- Starting, ending, changing school
- Changes in dress, manners, associations
- Changes in social, recreation, church activities
- Changes in eating habits, sleep, number of family gatherings
- Vacation, no vacation, Christmas
Millions of people become seriously ill, need medications, or even surgery because of illnesses which could have been healed years earlier, if they had used stress management techniques.
WHICH OF THESE REACTIONS TO STRESS HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED?
- OVEREATING
- Smoking
- Anger, emotional outbursts, tantrums, violent behaviour
- Nervous habits like nail biting, teeth grinding, rapid/shallow breathing, trembling, blushing
- Insomnia, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, heart disease, ulcers
- Stomach, neck, shoulder, back and muscle aches, headaches
- Weakened immune system, allergies, asthma, other respiratory diseases, arthritis, lupus, cancer, common cold, flu
- Loss of appetite, excessive eating, bulimia, weight problems
- Alcohol, drug abuse
- Eczema, skin rashes (possible mirror of emotions)
- Colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome
- Poor concentration/memory
- Low motivation, low performance, accidents
- Errors, missed deadlines
- Forgetting good health habits like exercise
- Chronic fatigue, chronic pain, poor posture
- Obsessions, compulsions, indecisiveness, apathy, hopelessness, depression, etc.