The Merriam-Webster dictionary
defines stress as a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily
or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation. Most of us, particularly my fellow healthcare
professionals, have an intimate knowledge of stress and do not need a formal
definition. Some level of stress has
been our constant companion as we have acquired both formal and practical life
education over the years. Now that we have
moved past school and training into the world of careers and parenthood, the
sources of stress have changed but the level remains constant if not
increased. Since the reality of life
stressors is not going away any time soon, the important thing is to learn
techniques to deal with stress effectively.
Stress is not always a bad
thing. The body’s reaction to acute
stress leads to what we know as the flight or fight response. In the short term, this makes us more alert
and prepared to take on necessary survival functions. The type of stress that causes problems is
chronic stress. The same chemicals that
allow one to be ready for oncoming danger in a crisis situation can cause a
breakdown in the body’s maintenance activities when present for too long.
Many times the effects of chronic
stress are so insidious they are not recognized immediately. Most of us are so perpetually wound up we do
not realize this is not a healthy state of being until some medical
professional indicates we have a hypertensive disorder. The physical manifestations of stress can
include headache, chest pain, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and dysfunction of
the gastrointestinal tract. The
psychosocial ramifications can be sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression,
irritability, rage, disordered eating, isolation behavior, lack of focus and
substance abuse. The best way to counter
these effects is to identify sources of stress and develop methods to manage
it.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
website suggests the following tips for coping with stress:
o
Note what you have accomplished
at the end of the day rather than what you have been unable to do
o
Set priorities for what must get
done now and what can wait
o
Recognize signs of your body’s
response to stress
o
Stay in touch with supportive
people (family, friends, community groups, religious organizations)
o
Avoid dwelling on problems
o
Look into stress coping programs
o
Have regularly scheduled healthy
and relaxing activities
o
Exercise regularly
o
Get proper health care for
existing or new health problems
o
Seek help from a qualified mental
health professional if you feel overwhelmed and unable to cope without using
drugs or alcohol
Managing stress is important part of being
well. Finding balance in life helps
modify stress. Work/life balance is a
popular 21st century phrase. However,
it implies there are only two aspects of being that need to be considered to
achieve wellness. It conjures the image
of a scale where work has to be balanced with everything else on the other side. True life balance involves putting work,
kids, partners, finances, emotional health, physical health, and spirituality all in their proper places. I think of it
more like a hanging mobile where some items have to occupy a higher location or
a larger space in order for everything to keep spinning. Figuring out for ourselves where everything
goes on that mobile is the first step in stress management and overall wellness.
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