| I have learned that stress can really have | | | | feeling except it was redirected as pain in |
| harmful effects on your body and life. A | | | | my stomach when the day was over. Is not |
| couple of years ago I was in the middle of a | | | | being able to print something for a 10 minute |
| very important project at work. With regard | | | | period of time really worth all of the stress |
| to work there was a lot riding on this | | | | it brings outside of your workday? Little by |
| particular project. In addition there was | | | | little I have taught myself how to cope with |
| about 7 other work related events coming down | | | | the daily issues I am presented. I still |
| the pipe which all needed to be addressed in | | | | provide my clients with good service and keep |
| the same period of time. Towards the end of | | | | them running smoothly. However, I do not let |
| that big rush I started getting intense | | | | myself get caught up in the stress like I |
| abdominal pain. | | | | once did. I feel the urgency of fixing the |
| | | | issues presented to me, but I continue to |
| At first I didn't want to eat anything but | | | | tell myself "this is just a job". I know |
| then I found that when I ate it felt better. | | | | that I have a life to come home to at the end |
| I thought without a doubt that I had | | | | of the day. The only reason I work now is to |
| developed an ulcer. I went to the emergency | | | | provide for the family, as opposed to getting |
| room later that evening to find out that I | | | | all worked up because I need to meet a |
| was affected by acid reflux. The stress in my | | | | deadline. I found that my health and |
| life was raising the acid in my stomach and | | | | happiness is more important than allowing the |
| burning the lining away. I had to start | | | | stress to take over my life. This doesn't |
| taking Zantac to ease the immediate issue. | | | | mean that I work any less, I work because I |
| My next step was to work on reducing the | | | | have to. It just means that I realize that |
| stress in my life. | | | | it is just a job and I can't let the stress |
| | | | hurt me anymore. |
| I'm sure many people have had or seen similar | | | | |
| occurrences in their own lives. You get so | | | | Since taking control of my stress the stomach |
| caught up in your work at your job you forget | | | | issues have gone away and I do not need to |
| about what is really important. Think about | | | | take medicine anymore. In the end just |
| it, why are you at your job anyway? Isn't it | | | | realize that the important things in life |
| to make money so that you can support your | | | | should be taking care of your health and your |
| life outside of your work day? So that you | | | | family, try not to get stressed by your daily |
| can enjoy your life? However, so many | | | | routine. Your health is worth more than |
| people get immersed in their day to day | | | | that. |
| routine that they forget what is really | | | | |
| important. | | | | This is just one example of the negative |
| | | | effects that stress has on your life. |
| I'm a computer engineer, so on a day to day | | | | Stress can adversely effect your health in |
| basis I have to assist other people in | | | | many other ways. If you're an American |
| completing their jobs. Making sure my | | | | between the ages of 18 to 49, there's a |
| clients can effectively use their computers | | | | 1-in-2 chance that you experience everyday |
| and network system. Everyday I see how angry | | | | stress. In fact, the Centers for Disease |
| people get when they can't do something as | | | | Control estimates that 75-90% of all doctor |
| simple as print a document. I too would get | | | | visits are stress-related. It's important to |
| caught up in this. I care so much about my | | | | find a healthy way to deal with stress. |
| job that I would feel the pain my client was | | | | |