The word "stress" is used very frequently in today's world, almost everybody talking about being stressed out, which means we are frequently exhausted, under tension, overworked, mentally and physically fatigued. The word "stress" has become a sort of catch word for hectic activities, nerve racking, burdening and life sapping demands. These negative interpretations of stress are but only one side of the coin.

Stress is as old as mankind itself. Even with animals we can observe stress related symptoms. Stress is not an invention of the industrial age, but is a part of life. The results of stress can be almost catastrophic, with direct immediate effects or with longer term effects. Stress can also be beneficial for our ability to perform and endure. Man has survived as a species because of our ability to overcome stress or because of stress itself, to be able to adjust to new challenges. 

Today we have a problem, because other very high risk factors have been added to our work, family and leisure life in addition to stress. Here are some examples:

• not enough physical activity
• smoking 
• environmental pollution
• wrong and too fatty diet
• alcohol and medication misuse
• constant noise pollution

Too much stress in individuals can have many symptoms (i.e. muscle tensions).

The sympathetic dominant Person under Stress
The constant muscle tension for this type of person can have a number of chronic problems:

• lower back pain 
• muscle tension in the back
• spinal disk problems
• migraine headaches 
• memory problems because of an overactive brain 

In this case biefeedback training for relaxation is recommended.

The parasympathetic dominant Person under Stress
This person also suffers from muscle tension, but more in the shoulder area, which can cause tension headaches:

• dizzyness
• shoulder pain
• memory loss due to an underactivated brain
• stomach and intestine problems, ulcers
• low blood pressure
• bronchial asthma

In this case biofeedback training for relaxation is recommended, especially the shoulder area. Conscious breathing will ground the person in the present.