Stress Management - Part I
Stress is an unavoidable consequence of life. As Hans Selye (who coined the term as it is currently used) noted stated, "Without stress, there would be no life". However, just as Distress can cause disease, it seems plausible that there are good stresses (Eustress) that promote wellness. Stress is not always necessarily harmful. Winning a race or election can be just stressful as losing, or more so, but may trigger very different biological responses. Increased stress results in increased productivity -- up to a point. However, this level differs for each of us. It's very much like the stress on a violin string. Not enough produces a dull, raspy sound. Too much tension makes a shrill, annoying noise or snaps the string. However, just the right degree can create a magnificent tone. Similarly, we all need to find the proper level of stress that allows us to perform optimally and make melodious music as we go through life.
Recognizing Stress
Which of these is stress?
- You receive a promotion at work.
- Your car has a flat tire.
- You go to a fun party that lasts ‘til 2:00 a.m.
- Your dog gets sick.
- Your new bedroom set is being delivered.
- Your best friend and his wife come to stay at your house for a week.
- You get a bad case of hay fever.
- All of the above?
ALL OF THESE ARE STRESS!
If you are used to thinking that stress is something that makes you worry, you have the wrong idea of stress. Stress is many different kinds of things: happy things, sad things, allergic things, and physical things. Many people carry enormous stress loads and they do not even realize it!
WHAT IS STRESS?
We are all familiar with the word "stress". Stress is when you are worried about getting laid off your job, or worried about having enough money to pay your bills, or worried about your mother when the doctor says she may need an operation. In fact, to most of us, stress is synonymous with worry. If it is something that makes you worry, then it is stress.
Your body, however, has a much broader definition of stress. TO YOUR BODY, STRESS IS SYNONYMOUS WITH CHANGE. Anything that causes a change in your life causes stress. It doesn't matter if it is a "good" change, or a "bad" change, they are both considered stressful. When you find your dream apartment and get ready to move, that is stress. If you break your leg, that is stress. Good or bad, if it is a CHANGE in your life, it is stress as far as your body is concerned.
Even IMAGINED CHANGE is stress. (Imagining changes is what we call "worrying".) If you fear that you will not have enough money to pay your rent that is stress. If you worry that you may get fired, that is stress. If you think that you may receive a promotion at work, that is also a form of stress (even though this would be a good change). Whether the event is good or bad, imagining changes in your life is stressful.
- Anything that causes change in your daily routine is stressful.
- Anything that causes a negative change in your body health is stressful.
- Imagined Changes are just as stressful as real changes.
Worrying, which is a form of imagining change, is considered to be stress?