The
key to stress management is harnessing, utilizing and improving our
own inner strengths and potentials – G. W. Lewis
Stress
is often in the eye of the beholder. One person’s challenge
can be another person’s overwhelming stress. Accordingly,
stress is not just an event but rather our perceptions of and
associations to that event. Stress results from change and challenge
and can be either positive (eustress) or negative (distress)
depending on our perception. Positive stress can help us focus
and offers positive challenge in our life. Negative stress, on
the other hand, results from an inability to relax or inability to
return to normal functioning following a challenge.
Unresolved
stress, for the individual, can exacerbate anxiety, depression,
physical illness, depress the immune system, increase the chances of
substance abuse, disrupt relationships and result in interpersonal
conflict in both personal and professional life. For
organizations, unresolved stress among employees results in reduced
productivity, increased absenteeism, substance abuse problems,
accidents, injuries and increased medical costs and benefits.
Before
developing a program to manage personal stress, one must first
determine the underlying causes of personal stress. Do you
feel helpless or depressed? Are you undergoing major life changes?
Are you susceptible to minor hassles and problems or do you just
simply feel overwhelmed by life situations?
Once
you have determined the sources of stress then you are ready to
ready to access the proper resources to create a stress management
program to fit your needs. For example, if you are feeling
helpless, depressed and overwhelmed by the feeling there is “no
way out”--you should consider depression assessment. A
discussion with your personal physician or a mental health
professional would be appropriate.
If
you are dealing with a significant change in your life consider
whether the change is adding value and challenge. Change can
add zest to your life, or it can add to the sense of feeling
overwhelmed. A review of the resiliency materials will provide
you with tips for coping and adapting to change and stressful life
events (see Resiliency article on this
website or visit www.helping.apa.org.
Other
solutions to managing stress may include the development of personal
plans to:
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Develop
a personal relaxation technique. This may include
breathing techniques, meditation, prayer or other methods of
relaxation.
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Mitigate
minor irritations.
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Control
or limit the negative effects of life change.
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Proactively
manage career and work challenges.
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Learn
how to give yourself “breaks.”
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Learn
to think differently, and talk to yourself differently,
about the challenges in your life.
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Ensure
that you maintain positive support systems in both your
personal and professional lives.
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Maintain
an overall healthy lifestyle, including exercise, diet and
sufficient sleep.
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The
following resources will help you get started on a plan for managing
stress: www.stresstips.com
or www.troubledwith.com
(click on stress link).
