Physical activity and cognitive health are two inseparable concepts. The interdependence is so great that any change in either one will result in immediate effect on the other. Since ancient times it has been known that physical activity alleviates the symptoms of sadness, grief and more even depression.
In a book titled “Fit and Well”, the authors present a close connection between fitness and well being of the mind and body. Not only is physical activity a great way to reduce stress and cure depression, it changes the lifestyle and allows for a better quality of life.
In a book titled “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living”, Dale Carnegie talks about techniques of stopping stress, and what it is a person needs to live a healthy life. The author starts off with reiterating that it is important to live in the present and let go of the past. It is equally critical to not live in the future and think that the current state or life is simply a transition into something better.
A person creates their own living conditions; all it takes is the will to act. People face stress in almost every aspect of existence. Work, public life and personal encounters all come with some degree of stress and that is why the ability to control and deal with stress is a necessity, which is very valuable in any situation. It is a physical, as well as mental manifestation of emotions that reflect, most of times, negatively on the person (Carnegie, 2010).
Dale Carnegie notes that stress becomes a physical manifestation of emotional problems. Some symptoms include loss of weight or the opposite, gain of weight due to stressful overeating, headaches and the feeling of tiredness and general nervousness, irritability and angry outbursts.
Most of the time stress is depressing and people look for ways to get rid of it. When considering “unwanted” stress, it relates to personal feelings and thoughts. It upsets the balance of the body and the restoration of it requires the calming down of the chemical reaction in the body, as well as the change in a person’s thinking.
As such, stress is a reaction of the central nervous system to the conditions that happen outside of the organism and as such, physical and mental suppression is required. The environmental factors increase the internal frustration, which leads to the body’s chemical response Dale Carnegie writes that self confidence and respect are among the most important ways to think of the self (Carnegie, 2010).
Coping with stress is a skill that everyone must develop. “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living” takes an in-depth look at the causes and results of stress, recommending techniques on how to resolve prolonged stress exposure. The first sign of stress is the headaches that it causes.
The key to success is to find a coping technique. But, on the other hand, there is positive stress. It is called “eustress” and it happens when a person must react quickly and without hesitation because their immediate health or sometimes life, depend on it. It gives more energy to the muscles and the brain, to deal with the stressor in the environment. It is a natural reaction, which is given to human beings specifically for this reason (Hughes, 2011).
As stress is very individual and people deal with it differently, it has been shown there are several techniques which must be also unique to a particular person. A timely attention must be given to prevent further development of stress.
References
Carnegie, D. (2010). How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
Hughes, M. (2011). Emotional Intelligence in Action. San Fransisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.