Know Your Danger Signals

Do you know your own body’s physiological danger signals like you know the back of your hand or your face in a mirror? Hans Selye, sometimes referred to as the father of stress management, once compiled a list of what he considered physiological danger signals. For example, physical signals could include fatigue, headaches, backaches, pounding of the heart, frequent urination, diarrhea, and drying of the mouth. Emotional signals could include hypervigilance, anxiety, emotion tension, and a loss of the love of life. Behavioral signals could include irritability, unusual impulsivity, along with a tendency to overreact, take things personally, or jump to conclusions. Rather that learning to become aware of these danger signals only to perceive them as problems to be overcome, try viewing them as messages to be heeded. Your body is trying to tell you something.