When it rains... IT POURS...

Have you ever felt like you are about to explode and you would want to just scream or hit something because of so much stress? I think I'm almost there.

Haven't really been myself lately. Been trying to relieve some of the stress by joking around with my other officemates trying to laugh things off but its not enough. Still under pressure to finish my team's PA and quite frankly, it starting to get to me. Since Monday evening I have been quite and just looking at my monitor trying to finish my tasks but last night was quite different. Probably thanks to the additional stress outside the office, which I got before going to work, I was feeling dizzy with my nape feeling a bit numb. I was having so much trouble concentrating on what I was doing and was starting to get very irritable. My apologies to Nicx because he was the one who got a sample of my irritableness when he asked me about something. Sorry about that Nicx.

Maybe it would help me cope with it if I understood what stress was and here's what I found. These are excerpts from the article I found in TeensHealth.

What Is Stress?
Stress is a feeling that's created when we react to particular events. It's the body's way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness.

What Causes Stress Overload?
Although just enough stress can be a good thing, stress overload is a different story - too much stress isn't good for anyone.

Pressures that are too intense or last too long, or troubles that are shouldered alone, can cause people to feel stress overload. Here are some of the things that can overwhelm the body's ability to cope if they continue for a long time:

being bullied or exposed to violence or injury
relationship stress, family conflicts, or the heavy emotions that can accompany a broken heart or the death of a loved one
ongoing problems with schoolwork related to a learning disability or other problems, such as ADHD (usually once the problem is recognized and the person is given the right learning support the stress disappears)
crammed schedules, not having enough time to rest and relax, and always being on the go

Signs of Stress Overload
People who are experiencing stress overload may notice some of the following signs:

anxiety or panic attacks
a feeling of being constantly pressured, hassled, and hurried
irritability and moodiness
physical symptoms, such as stomach problems, headaches, or even chest pain
allergic reactions, such as eczema or asthma
problems sleeping
drinking too much, smoking, overeating, or doing drugs
sadness or depression
Everyone experiences stress a little differently. Some people become angry and act out their stress or take it out on others. Some people internalize it and develop eating disorders or substance abuse problems. And some people who have a chronic illness may find that the symptoms of their illness flare up under an overload of stress.

Keep Stress Under Control
The most helpful method of dealing with stress is learning how to manage the stress that comes along with any new challenge, good or bad. Stress-management skills work best when they're used regularly, not just when the pressure's on. Knowing how to "de-stress" and doing it when things are relatively calm can help you get through challenging circumstances that may arise. Here are some things that can help keep stress under control.

Build Your Resilience
Ever notice that certain people seem to adapt quickly to stressful circumstances and take things in stride? They're cool under pressure and able to handle problems as they come up. Researchers have identified the qualities that make some people seem naturally resilient even when faced with high levels of stress. If you want to build your resilience, work on developing these attitudes and behaviors:

Think of change as a challenging and normal part of life.
See setbacks and problems as temporary and solvable.
Believe that you will succeed if you keep working toward your goals.
Take action to solve problems that crop up.
Build strong relationships and keep commitments to family and friends.
Have a support system and ask for help.
Participate regularly in activities for relaxation and fun.

I guess having problems outside the office does not really help but its not an excuse to take it out on other (innocent) people. Thanks to this, I might learn how to manage stress and be resilient soon.