Stress is commonly viewed as a frustrated ‘fight or flight’ response
a basic human survival mechanism left over from our primordial ‘roots’ when we could best respond to perceived dangers by either fighting or fleeing; seen in this way, stress behaviour and emotions are sometimes regarded as problematic inappropriate responses to threatening situations in modern civilised society, however, stress is a) a powerful internal communication to raise awareness, and b) a source of energy, although the raw emotional and physical energies may have to be transformed to a more useful form before they are directly useful.
Stress is the uncomfortable gap between how we would like our life to be, and how it actually is.
if this gap is persistent (or even worse: growing!) - despite our efforts to reduce it then our distress is particularly acute taking such forms as:
Anxiety & fear - “Where will it all end?”
Frustration & depression - “Nothing seems to work!” - “I feel helpless to stop this!”
Anger - “Who is responsible for this situation?”
Anxiety - “How much more can I take?” - "Can/will anyone help me?
Helplessness & depression - “No-one seems to care!” - “What have I done to deserve this?”
Whatever the definition of stress, we don’t need a diagnosis to know it when we have it – our bodies tell us. We tell ourselves. We tell each other. ‘Stressed out’ is as ubiquitous a term in the today’s world as ‘have a nice day’.
Oddly, stress is not always the byproduct of a negative event. Any bride or bridegroom to be can tell you they are stressed, even though their upcoming nuptials are a pleasantly anticipated occasion. (For that matter, the bride’s parents may also admit to stress just getting the reception paid for!)
With this conundrum in mind, stress can be defined as the “automatic state that results when the body (your body) is told to make changes in order to adapt to any demand.â€
Realizing what is causing you stress in your life is the first step towards minimizing your stress tension.
First, try and identify what your stress sources are.
We all have them – those occurrences that cause stress. Maybe it’s unrealistic expectations, work situations, health concerns or family matters.
Sometimes it’s a sudden traumatic event: a death or an accident. We shared this type of stress as a nation following the terror of 9-11.
To help handle any of these stressful situations requires we apply certain coping styles. Here are a few suggestions to help:
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A positive mental attitude is a key to stress management. If you help yourself realize you cannot control all events, all things, you’ll be better able to handle the unexpected outcomes.
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Be realistic. You’re not perfect nor are you going to be perfect. In our 21st century society, we often try to do it all. You know the Superwoman/Superman image – the perfect go-to employee, the perfect mom/dad, the perfect community volunteer. These aspirations are in themselves wonderful, but realizing you can’t do it all is a major step toward reducing your stress levels.
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Leave your work at work. This may seem easier to some of you than others, but it’s worth your while to leave the office problems at the door when you head home. They’ll be there again tomorrow and in the meantime you can use your down time to concentrate on your well-being and that of your family or circle of friends.
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Simplify. Overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks on your to-do list? You’re not alone. Work at being better organized. Spending 20 minutes looking for your notes before an important meeting will definitely help spike the stress quotient. Better organize your home, your office, your car to save yourself stress. You’ll be amazed.
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Prioritize. We’re living in a tension-filled, rush-rush society, but prioritizing your daily tasks may help you eliminate a lot of stress. Let’s admit it – some of these duties must be done today, but others can wait. Make a list – do what can and should be done now, break the larger demands into smaller, more manageable tasks, delegate and eliminate. Stress reducers, all.
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Take good care of you. Remember the phrase “nurture the child within.†Though it may be in the cliché pile now, do realize the sentiment remains true. Your feelings of stress and anxiety can be coped with better when you are healthy, well rested, and joyful. Work at it. Get enough sleep. You’ve heard the studies that say your productivity declines when you are sleep-deprived. Learn to relax with deep breathing exercises. It’s a simple matter of breathing in deeply through your nose, filling your lungs. Exhale all that air. This is a great at-work tension buster. Eat right – more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and foods high in protein and less fat.
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Don’t forget your mind and spirit. Yes, as mentioned, caring for your body will help you cope with stress. But let’s not forget your mind and spirit. When you feel stress, tension and/or anxiety in your life. Spend time with friends and others who will offer positive feedback. Laugh often. Even the stressful work environment will lighten with a little well-placed humor.
Ultimately, the good news about stress is that you have more power over stress than you may realize. I strongly belive that stress is an excuse, it is something we can control and it is only a matter of chosing to control it, or let it control us. People tend to let it control them, stress provides as a univerisal excuse. Though confronting someone about this would prove difficult, picture yourself shaking your finger at someone ‘geneuinly’ stressed out and telling them it’s a poor excuse for them to ultimatly get what they want, wether that be a day off of work or to get out of doing the washing up.