Many people don't realize it, but stress is a very natural and important part of life. Without stress, there would be no life at all! We need "good" stress (eustress), but not too much stress for too long (distress). Our bodies are designed to react to both types of stress. Eustress helps keep us alert, motivates us to face challenges, and drives us to solve problems. These low levels of stress are manageable and can be thought of as necessary and normal stimulation.
Distress, on the other hand, results when our bodies over-react to events. It leads to what has been called a "fight or flight" reaction. Such reactions may have been useful in times long ago when our ancestors were frequently faced with life-or-death matters. Nowadays, such occurrences are not usual. Yet, we react to many daily situations as if they were life-or-death issues. Our bodies really don't know the difference between a saber-toothed tiger and an employer correcting our work. It is how we perceive and interpret the events of life that dictates how our bodies react. If we think something is very scary or worrisome, our bodies react accordingly.
When we view something as manageable, though, our body doesn't go haywire; it remains alert but not alarmed. The activation of our sympathetic nervous system (a very important part of our general nervous system) mobilizes us for quick action. The more we sense danger (social or physical), the more our bodies react. Have you ever been called upon to give an extemporaneous talk and found that your heart pounded so loudly and your mouth was so dry that you thought you just couldn't do it? That's over-reaction.
Problems can occur when overactivation of the sympathetic system is unnecessary. If we react too strongly or let the small over-reactions (the daily hassles) pile up, we may run into physical, as well as psychological, problems. Gastrointestinal problems (e.g., diarrhea or nausea), depression, or severe headaches can come about from acute distress. Insomnia, heart disease, and distress habits (e.g., drinking, overeating, smoking, and using drugs) can result from the accumulation of distress.
What we all to learn is to approach matters in more realistic and reasonable ways. Strong reactions are better reserved for serious situations. Manageable reactions are better for the everyday issues that we all have to face.
Basically, we need to modify our over-reactions to situations. Rather than seeing situations as psychologically or physically threatening and thereby activating our sympathetic nervous system, our parasympathetic nervous system (that part which helps to lower physiological arousal) needs to be called into play. The following suggestions are designed to reduce distress. Try them. They work!
| 1. | Learn to Relax. Throughout the day, take "minibreaks." Sit down and get comfortable, slowly take a deep breath in, hold it, and then exhale very slowly. (Try this right now while you're reading!) At the same time, let your shoulder muscles droop, smile, and say something positive like, "I am r-e-l-a-x-e-d." Be sure to get sufficient rest at night. | ||||||||||||||
| 2. | Practice Acceptance. Many people get distressed over things they won't let themselves accept. Often these are things that can't be changed, like someone else's feelings or beliefs. If something unjust bothers you, that is different. If you act in a responsible way, the chances are you will manage stress effectively. | ||||||||||||||
| 3. | Talk Rationally to Yourself. Ask yourself what
real impact the stressful situation will have on you in a day or a
week and see if you can let the negative thoughts go. Think through
whether the situation is your problem or the other's. If it is
yours, approach it calmly and firmly; if it is the other's, there
is not much you can do about it. Rather than condemn yourself with
hindsight thinking, such as, "I should have...," think about what
you can learn from the error and plan for the future. Watch out for
perfectionism—set realistic and attainable goals. Remember,
everyone makes errors. Be careful of procrastination—breaking
tasks into smaller units will help and prioritizing will help get
things done.FONT>
| 4.
| Get Organized. Develop a realistic schedule of
daily activities that includes time for work, sleep, relationships,
and recreation. Use a daily "things to do" list. Improve your physical
surroundings by cleaning your house and straightening up your office.
Use your time and energy as efficiently as possible.
| 5.
| Exercise. Physical activity has always provided
relief from stress. In the past, daily work was largely physical. Now
that physical exertion is no longer a requirement for earning a
living, we don't get rid of stress so easily while working. It
accumulates very quickly. We need to develop a regular exercise
program to help reduce the effects of stress before it becomes
distress. Try aerobics, walking, jogging, dancing, swimming, and
the like.
| 6.
| Reduce Time Urgency. If you frequently check your
watch or worry about what you do with your time, learn to take things
a bit more slowly. Allow plenty of time to get things done. Plan your
schedule ahead of time. Recognize that you can only do so much in a
given period. Practice the notion of "pace, not race."
| 7.
| Disarm Yourself. Every situation in life does not
require you to be competitive. Adjust your approach to an event
according to its demands. You don't have to raise your voice in a
simple discussion. Playing tennis with a friend doesn't have to be
an Olympic trial. Leave behind your "weapons" of shouting, having
the last word, putting someone else down, and blaming.
| 8.
| Quiet Time. Balance your family, social, and work
demands with special private times. Hobbies are good antidotes
for daily pressures. Unwind by taking a quiet stroll, soaking in a
hot bath, watching a sunset, or listening to calming music.
| 9.
| Watch Your Habits. Eat sensibly—a balanced
diet will provide all the necessary energy you will need during the
day. Avoid nonprescription drugs and minimize your alcohol
use—you need to be mentally and physically alert to deal with
stress. Be mindful of the effects of excessive caffeine and sugar on
nervousness. Put out the cigarettes—they restrict blood
circulation and affect the stress response.
| 10.
| Talk to Friends. Friends can be good medicine.
Daily doses of conversation, regular social engagements, and
occasional sharing of deep feelings and thoughts can reduce stress
quite nicely.
| |
You can learn more about managing stress through books and audio cassette tapes available at public libraries and bookstores. Among the more popular books are Stress Without Distress by Dr. Hans Selye, Mind As Healer, Mind As Slayer by Dr. Kenneth Pelletier, and The Relaxation Response by Dr. Herbert Benson. A useful cassette tape is A Six-Second Technique to Control Stress by Dr. Charles Stroebel.
For an individualized stress management program, you may wish to consult a health care professional specializing in health promotion. For a referral, contact the local office of your state's psychological association, or the department of psychology at a nearby college of university.
This information was prepared by Kent T. Yamauchi, Ph.D., reproduced from Innovations in Clinical Practice: A Source Book, Volume 5, P.A. Keller & L. G. Ritt (Eds.). Copyright 1986, Professional Resource Exchange, Inc., PO Box 15560, Sarasota, FL 34277-1560.
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