How stressed do you get? More importantly, how does it make you feel?
From a purely non medical perspective, it seems to me that if somebody’s permanently feeling exhausted and in poor health then amongst a long list of possibilities is “bad stress”. I say bad stress, because according to those in the know, individuals require a certain amount of “good stress” or healthy tension to operate effectively. The problem appears to be that everybody has a different tolerance level to stress and so what would be good for some is most definitely not so good for others.
Exposure to prolonged stressful situations is most certainly not good for you. The current financial debacle will no doubt be the “straw that breaks the camels back” for many.
Knowing your own “triggers” and tolerance levels (and of course keeping an eye on those who are important to you) is a good place to start. Protect each other and if excessive stress starts to show itself, recognise the problem, get the appropriate medical advice and tackle it head on.
In the meantime, take light regular exercise, eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, drink plenty of water, and get lots of good quality of sleep. Relaxation techniques are thought to be really beneficial at any time. Some examples include Meditation, Yoga and Tai Chi which are all great for mind and body relaxation.
But the next time somebody really winds you up, remember, they’re really just 90% water!!