Stress

The American Psychological Association state that 43% of American adults suffer from some sort of stress-related problem. Stress can increase the chance of many illnesses. Stress management is important to health due to several different theories that explain the complex relationship between stress and disease. There is a link between an increased level of stress hormones and a decreased number of immune system cells. Different types of stress affect the immune system in different ways. Ongoing stress can cause negative effects on the immune system. Prolonged chronic stress can accelerate the increase of diseases and other health problems along with mood and behavior changes. Positive stress can have the exact opposite, it can increase immunity. Finding a healthy coping technique is key to a healthy and happy life.

My stress profile fluctuated between the different areas of stress. My lowest area was life events. I didn’t have a lot of major changes besides starting school. I haven’t had any relationship problems; I am in a long-term, committed relationship with a wedding occurring in August. I haven’t had any major changes in life style, such as the death or serious illness of a close friend or family member. The only major change in health status that occurred for me was the birth of my daughter. The area I scored the highest was the anxiety stressor. I am known to imagining the worst possible thing happening in any given situation. I tend to over analyze everything and rethink everything that happens or could happen. I re-live different situations over and over again in my head. I have a very difficult time allowing my mind to rest and be able to fall asleep at night. I am a very tense person. I worry about difficulties piling up on me and not being able to get out. I am a very anxious person and I suffer from post partum depression and anxiety.

Aside from having a high anxiety, the rest of the parts were either low or moderate or average. I think my...