Without some stress, motivation to act would be very low. But, if stress is excessive or lasts for a long time, health begins to suffer. The immune system is compromised. Rest and deep sleep can be disrupted. When stress levels are high and self calming skills are low or seldom used, the body becomes more vunerable to infection, immune disorders and, it is believed, cancer.
Stress management is important for anyone seeking to protect themself or heal from cancer.
It is a basic skill for living well. Learning to calm and relax one's mind and body helps us resist and fight cancer, and many other major diseases of our times. It is also worth noting that without these skills, some people turn to unhealthy patterns to calm themself. Many are associated with increased cancer risk, such over-eating, excessive alcohol use, cigarette smoking and withdrawal from physical and social activities. Alone or in combination, these behaviors increase vunerabilty to the ill effects of stress.