Stress Management

What is stress?

 Stress is physical or emotional tension.  It can be caused by a variety of physical, chemical, or emotional factors.  Life is full of constant change; however, change, whether good or bad, is a source of stress.  The body physically reacts to this stress, attempting to return quickly to normal.  Over time, this creates wear and tear on the body.

 Not all stress is bad.  Getting rid of all stress would make life dull and boring.  There is good stress and bad stress.  Examples of good stress could include: moving, marriage, planned pregnancy, graduation, job promotion, or new job.  Examples of bad stress could include death of a family member or friend, loss of job, divorce, and unpaid or excessive bills.

Savoring the little moments in your life 
will help you feel happier.  Treasure the smile your child gives you in the morning; the satisfaction of helping a friend; and the pleasure of reading a good book.

Getting Burned Out at Work Can Reduce Your Productivity.  
To avoid burn-out: look for ways to make your work more interesting.  Ask about possibly trading some responsibilities with co-workers.  Work on forgetting about your job when you're at home.

Physical responses to stress.

 The body can’t tell the difference between good stress and bad stress, so it reacts the same to either type.  Reaction to stress usually includes an increase in: heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar level, skin temperature, breathing rate, alertness, muscle tension, and sweat production.  These reactions all make the heart work harder.  Therefore, since we can’t get rid of stress entirely, we must learn how to recognize it and keep it under control.

How to reduce stress.

 Talk to a friend, read a good book, have a good laugh, try deep breathing exercises, eat a well-balanced diet, get a massage, stretch your whole body, start a hobby, take a break, avoid excess alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fats, learn to take action when you can make a difference, start an exercise program.

Learn to manage stress.

 Stress is normal and happens no matter how hard we try to avoid it.  We can, however, take action to avoid some stress and reduce its effects.  Understand stress and the depression and anxiety it can bring; Keep in mind that the first step to solving a problem is recognizing that it exits; Help yourself and others. Talk it over, take it easy and try to keep things in perspective; Keep stress in check and act before it causes trouble; Know where to go for help.  Prompt, professional advice can keep minor problems for becoming major ones.

Ways to Combat Burnout 
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder