They need their daily fix of stress

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Current lifestyles are creating a breed who thrive on unreasonable levels of constant pressure</span><br /><br />Dev, a young, foreign-educated software engineer suddenly started getting headaches, palpitations and often felt choking sensations. He was a bundle of nerves, kept changing jobs and could not get on with his co-workers.Why? They were too slow and sluggish for him and could not keep up with his frenetic pace. Dev has some type A personality traits and could be dismissed as yet another workaholic. But he isn''t. He''s more than that. He is a stress junkie. And this is a malady that affects Gen X.<br /><br />Stress junkies thrive on self-induced stress and feel totally lost on Sundays and holidays when they don''t have much to do. People like Dev feel restless and take their frustration out on their spouses and children. Worse, their children could emulate their hyper behaviour and end up as stress junkies themselves.<br /><br />Behavioural expert Dr B Kapur points out that stress junkies often pay a heavy price. "They suffer from health problems like stomach ulcers and heart ailments. They burn out far quicker than others," he says.<br /><br />One medical practitioner says that corporate employees come in complaining of dizziness and neck pain. Some exhibit symptoms of depression, but their ego won''t let them admit that they have an illness. A typical stress junkie is either from the software industry or is in the marketing division of an MNC.<br /><br />Men are more prone to thrive on stress than women. "Women in their reproductive years have oestrogen and other hormones which provide physiological protection against effects of stress," says one expert.<br /><br />Stress junkie Anand Rao (name changed), says, "I would get perverse pleasure in driving everyone up the wall and only got attention from my parents when I was stressed out." He became an alcoholic at 30 after he fell into a debt trap and owed credit card companies a good deal of money. He had to get medical help and counselling.<br /><br />According to corporate trainer Dipankar Khanna, insecurity is the root cause of this problem. "Ideally you should have a a balance of pressure and fun, but these junkies restrict themselves and limit their choices. Pressure is good but constant pressure leads to chronic stress. He adds, "Addictive stress can bring in the big bucks as well as power. But finally, you need a wholesome lifestyle. Life offers you a bouquet of choices and constant stress is not one of them. Often a junkie seeks ''revenge'' but ends up taking it out on himself. Such people are also vulnerable to addictions like drinking, gambling and ''retail therapy''." <br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">cavalesangeeta@indiatimes.com</span></div> </div>