Stressed to the Breaking Point!!!

How stressed are you?

Oddly enough, people who are stressed to the breaking point aren't concerned with their own self.  The stress is generally rooted in those that they love, whether it's a friend, a family member, or a beloved pet.  If any of the following sound a bit like your life, please make an appointment to see your doctor.  Over time, stress will create a huge negative impact on your health and overall well-being.  Here are some of the symptoms according to Sky with the analysis of the situation and the helpful suggestions in red.  I've decided to use 'Your Daughter Betsy' as my example.  

One note before beginning: Individuals who are stressed are the most unselfish people in the world.  The fact that they care so much about the things that they love is a rare quality of human kindness. Unfortunately, these individuals are generally unappreciated, usually single or divorced after several years of marriage, and find happiness in the most simple things of life.   

Something that signals a big problem in the realm of stress is when an individual has SEVERAL stressful issues that they are concerning their self with.  They are worried about everything and everyone EXCEPT their own self!!!  It's a viscous merry-go-round.

Recognizing this problem within you is the first step towards stepping out of the Pit of Stress.

You will talk excessively, as if you can't spill everything out fast enough.  You may unload all of your concerns about the people that you love on a friend's kind ear and though it may help for a little while, the solace doesn't last.  For example, your daughter Besty's marriage is going south and doesn't appear that it will be flying back.  You are stressed to the max over Betsy's marriage, as well as your grandchildren.  You are unable to talk to anyone about anything else but your concerns for Betsy AS WELL AS the other dozen concerns that you have.

From time-to-time, we ALL get locked into this rut.  It's perfectly normal to be concerned about the people and animals that we love.  However, if this is a recurring matter - over several weeks and doesn't seem to end, you've got a problem that you need to solve that is NOW BIGGER than the very things that you are obsessed in worrying about. Your stress issue is more important than Betsy's flustered marriage.  Stress can kill.  It can certainly destroy your happiness, short-term or long-term.

You must realize that even though you love your friends/family/pets tremendously, their problems are not your problems to solve.  You feel out of control which sets off the stress factor, but quite frankly, you don't have any control over other people's emotional matters.  Unfortunately, marriage, sickness, conflicts - all are either emotional matters or matters beyond our control.

Your concerns overtake your thoughts and consume them throughout the day.  You can't get your problems off of your mind and you can't concentrate on your daily activities.  

Stress has thrown you out of your Normal Routine Mode and you are NOW living in Stress Routine Mode.  You must break the cycle of stress or you could be locked in the Pit of Stress for a long while, maybe even a lifetime.

Everyone else's life is more important to you than your own.  You're more worried about your child Betsy's marriage breaking up than you are about your own life.

Yes, you love Betsy dearly but how much support are you receiving from Betsy?  What about YOU? Who is there for you?  Does anyone recognize the agony that you are experiencing?  The pain over the helpless situation?

It's time to relax and focus on YOU.  Letting your child live their own life does not mean that you don't love them.  When we get too involved in our kid's lives, it not only creates problems for our own selves, but for our kids as well.  Your input to Betsy could be the very thing that is putting her marriage on the brink!  Couples share and you certainly don't want to get locked in the middle.

If you are single, discover a new fascinating interest!  Get involved in your own life.  It's not easy, certainly not easy.  But if this sounds like you, aren't you miserable right now?  Yes, you love your child, but aren't you miserable?  Wouldn't it be nice for Betsy to be happy and successful and thriving?  That would ease your stress level, wouldn't it?

Or would it?  Unfortunately, if you're prone to stress, the answer is 'no'.  You're apt to find something else to worry about, to be stressful about.  This is where you doctor can be of help.

You cannot concentrate on work.  You find yourself making multiple errors throughout the day.

Make a promise to yourself to block out your troubles while you are at work.  If not, you'll have the stress of looking for a new job to add to your stress pile.

Once you arrive home, put your feet up.  Concentrate on YOU!  Make a cup of coffee or hot tea and take some time to de-zone.

You may experience depression or entertain thoughts of suicide.  You may feel bottled up with an intense anger.

Time to call your doctor!  The anger and frustration you feel is due to the fact that you are unable to solve the issues in the people's lives that you love.  Again, it's out of your control so you feel...out of control.

You may cry a lot when you are alone over other's problems.

Take note that these are NOT your problems to solve.  You must live your life and love others enough to let them go live their lives.  It's NOT an easy thing to do, especially if you are single.  Your kids or other family members may be your life.

You are unable to relax or sleep well at night.  You may experience nightmares that you cannot explain, or you may not be able to sleep at all.

Time to call the doctor!  Your lack of sleep is contributing to those unproductive days at work.  Until you see your doctor, try drinking a glass of milk or eating a slice of cheese before bedtime.

You find yourself looking pretty poor because you don't care how your hair looks, how your nails look, how you're dressed.  If only Betsy's marriage would level out, you could get your own life back on track.

Lay that stress aside for ONE day!  Refuse to concentrate on anyone or anything but YOU!  Go on a shopping spree - get those nails and hair done.  Pamper yourself like never before because YOU deserve it, you wonderful person you!

You may find yourself a bit poor these days as you give money to the people you are stressed about, hoping that it will be of help.  Your own finances may suffer, but for some reason that doesn't bother you as much as 'Betsy's' financial woes.

Stressed out individuals are the most generous people in the world.

Although money may be a quick fix, no amount of money will solve all of Betsy's problems.  When the parent plays the perpetual safety net in their kid's life, the kid usually begins to 'expect' to be rescued.  It's time to allow Betsy to begin finding ways to solve her own problems.

And who is going to be there for you when you are jobless and penniless?  You should always be #1 in your life!  If you aren't the best that you can be, you can't possibly be that for others!

You may find yourself praying or meditating almost continually these days.

There is great comfort in the Arms of God, but there comes a time when He cannot move His hand.  To do such would be to change the Will of Man.

Continue to find comfort and to pray for the ones you love and while you pray, ask God to help take away your stressful feelings.