Stress
Stress is a
normal part of life. However, too much stress can affect our ability to enjoy life, to
make decisions or to participate in other activities. Too much stress can also affect how
we relate to or communicate with our families, friends, and co-workers. Excessive stress
also affects us physically; it can increase our fatigue level or pain, increase our blood
pressure and heart rate, and may interfere with sleep.
Although stress is part of every-day life, it may occur more often or increase with disability. Having a disability may increase stress because of the demands created by the disability. The management of stress may affect the symptoms of chronic illness. During times of stress, these symptoms may seem worse because the energy to deal with them has been drained. At stressful times, more energy is required to think, problem-solve, and cope.
Stress may be increased in women with disabilities because they have less time to relax and less energy to participate in relaxing hobbies and activities. Some factors that can produce stress in women with disabilities are decreased time and energy available to participate in activities with family, children, and friends; competing demands on women's time and energy; concern about the disability and the future; and the need to use assistive devices.
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