The word "physiological" refers to the body’s physical reaction to something, and doctors have long held that 70% of all illnesses are psychosomatic, meaning that they are caused by the mind.

If an illness is caused by the mind it means that it relates to an emotional response that one has been unable to cope with successfully. Therefore, one could also say that 70% of illnesses are stress related and are caused by our reactions to the anxieties and frustrations of negative stress.

There are a huge number of illnesses and emotional issues that are considered to be stress related including:

• Flu & colds
• Insomnia due to excessive anxiety and worrying
• Eczema and other skin related problems like dermatitis and alopecia due to nervous conditions
• Hair loss due to excessive anxiety and worrying
• All forms of phobia i.e. claustrophobia due to nervous conditions
• Asthma attacks and respiratory problems due to nervous conditions
• Lung cancer due to excessive smoking
• Strokes due to an extreme stressful event
• Liver Cirrhosis from alcohol abuse
• Withdrawal symptoms resulting in physical pain from drug or alcohol abuse
• Diabetes (Type 2)

It is important to understand that whilst illness can be the end result of stress, there are other physiological reactions to stress including factors like an inability to sleep due to mental tension, worrying and anxiety. For most people the reactions stated will be quite typical and can be combined with minor illness like a flu or cold. Prolonged negative stress can easily lead to more serious physiological effects and illness as described.

The role that a healthy, balanced lifestyle plays in alleviating general types of stress cannot be overstated.

Life is certainly challenging enough without negative stress and toxic relationships and we need to be in the best possible condition mentally and physically in order to maximise our potential and deal with the day-to-day situations that crop up at work or at home.

Substance abuse of alcohol and drugs is clearly not a healthy lifestyle choice and people who abuse substances or even drink to excess create more stress for themselves due to their inability to perform effectively in the workplace, and often have poor relationships with others.

Some people take comfort in food as a way of alleviating stress and develop bad habits of overindulging on chocolates, crisps and fast food with excess fat, toxins and chemicals.

A healthy lifestyle would include the following:

• Eating three moderate meals a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Nutritionally high diet with protein & vegetables, including carbohydrates
• Drinking 1.5 – 2 litres of water per day
• Exercising 2-3 times per week
• Limiting stimulants like coffee
• Moderate intake of alcohol
• No smoking
• 8 hours sleep
• Good inter-personal relationships
• Regular reading and self development

If the lifestyle choices highlighted above are implemented, they will equip you with the tools to be in peak mental and physical condition to better deal with general types of stress whether in the workplace or in the greater environment.

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