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Erectile Dysfunction
Stress Management
Everyone
experiences stress. Our bodies are designed to feel stress
and react to it. It keeps us alert and ready to avoid danger.
But, when stress persists, the body begins to break down and
problems, like erectile dysfunction, can occur. The key to
coping with stress is identifying stressors in your life and
learning ways to reduce them.
What
Is Stress?
Stress
is your reaction to any change that requires you to adjust
or respond. It's important to remember that you can control
stress because stress comes from how you respond to stressful
events.
What
Causes Stress?
Stress
can be caused by anything that requires you to adjust to a
change in your environment. Your body reacts to these changes
with physical, mental, and emotional responses. We all have
our own ways of coping with change, so the causes of stress
can be different for each person.
Common
causes of stress include:
Death
of a loved one
Confrontations
Marriage
Deadlines
Legal problems
Job loss
Divorce
New job
Retirement
Money problems
Illnesses
When you are not sure of the exact cause of your stress, it
may help to know the warning signs of stress. Once you can
identify these signs, you can learn how your body responds
to stress. Then you can take steps to reduce it.
What
Are the Warning Signs of Stress?
Your body
sends out physical, emotional, and behavioral warning signs
of stress.
Emotional
warning signs of stress include:
Anger
Inability to concentrate
Unproductive worry
Sadness
Frequent mood swings
Physical warning signs of stress include:
Stooped
posture
Sweaty palms
Chronic fatigue
Weight gain or loss
Erectile dysfunction
Behavioral warning signs of stress include:
Over-reacting
Acting on impulse
Using alcohol or drugs
Withdrawing from relationships
Changing jobs often
How Can I Cope With Stress?
Lower
your expectations; accept that there are events you cannot
control
Ask others to help or assist you
Take responsibility for the situation
Engage in problem solving
Express distressing emotions. Be assertive instead of aggressive.
"Assert" your feelings, opinions or beliefs instead
of becoming angry, combative or passive.
Maintain emotionally supportive relationships
Maintain emotional composure
Challenge previously held beliefs that are no longer adaptive
Directly attempt to change the source of stress
Distance yourself from the source of stress
Learn to relax
Eat and drink sensibly
Stop smoking or other bad habits
Exercise regularly
Maintain a healthy sense of self-esteem
Experts agree that coping is a process rather than an event.
Thus, an individual may alternate between several of the above
coping strategies in order to cope with a stressful event.
When
Should I Seek Help?
You should
seek help in dealing with your stress when you experience
any of the following:
Marked
decline in work/school performance
Excess anxiety
Alcohol or drug abuse
Inability to cope with demands of daily life
Irrational fears
Obsessive preoccupation with food and fear of becoming obese
with no relationship to actual body weight
Significant change in sleeping or eating habits
Persistent physical ailments and complaints
Suicidal thoughts or urge to hurt others
Self-mutilation, self-destructive or dangerous behavior
Sustained withdrawn mood or behavior
Where Do I Go to Get Help?
Your personal
doctor. He or she can determine if your stress is due to an
anxiety disorder, a medical condition, or both and can refer
you to a mental health professional, if necessary.
If an
emergency, call a crisis hotline, or go to the nearest emergency
room
Reviewed
by the doctors at the Glickman Urological Institute at The
Cleveland Clinic.
Edited
by Charlotte Grayson, MD, WebMD, May 2004
Portions of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2004
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