Stress Management

Author: Giles Ru'Orden, May 2012

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Now I'm certain that most people on this planet have at one time or another been stressed. Like red blood cells delivering oxygen to distal organs, if you're alive, inevitably you will experience or have experienced the rigors of stress. So what are some things we can do to reduce or manage the stress we face in life? Let's first look at what stress is.

Stress, to put it simply, is that mountain of thought telling us we have too much on our plate. To deal with this burden, we as biological entities will undergo a fight or flight response in order to alleviate the mounting pressure. Even though this reaction puts us in an odd place, early humans employed this response as a way of dealing with an enemy. As such, the most common physical changes that occur when our bodies are engaging in a fight or flight protocol include, heart rate increase, more blood flow to large muscles, sweating, adrenaline increases, and muscle tension. If the physical fight or flight reaction is not dealt with accordingly, various other symptoms may develop which can negatively impact our bodies. These symptoms include, but are not limited to, headaches, back pain, frequent cold, depression, impatience, forgetfulness, and eating poorly. No one wants to experience these symptoms and as a consequence, often try to deal with stressors by using unhealthy means. The best way to cope with these symptoms is to first identify the stressors that may elicit these responses.

Stressors come in all different shapes and sizes and are largely dependent on personal perception. Some common stressors include, money problems, being in a crowded place, major life changes, time pressures, exams, or even exposure to loud noises. What is important to keep in mind, is that what one person perceives as a stressor, another person might think it is not. So, to help understand your own stressors, it might be a good idea to identify and record some situations that caused you stress and how you reacted to them.

Now that you're thinking about a stressor you have experienced, how did you deal with it? Do you think it was a controllable or uncontrollable stressor? Stress is inevitable, but there are healthy ways to respond to both controllable and uncontrollable stressors. An uncontrollable stressor is one that is unexpected ( e.g. loss of job ) and is often the most difficult to manage because of its unexpected nature. However, speaking with someone might help you cope with the pressure. Conversely, a controllable stressor is one that we most commonly see in our day to day lives. These stressors have the most potential to be managed effectively and can be eliminated or reduced if good planning is employed or action is taken to change the situation. These actions include learning to say no without feeling bad or even imagining an event in your mind and figuring out how you want to handle it. Rehearse what you imagine by asking yourself, "How should I handle this stressor? Should I avoid it? Accept it? Or maybe adapt to it?". Some additional strategies that can be employed to alleviate stress include various distraction activities like exercise, cleaning, stretching, and employing relaxation techniques. Keep in mind that once you have made a decision about how you will handle a stressor, feel confident that you are making the right choice. By taking the time to address what troubles you, you will be well on your way to effectively managing your stress.

Stress is a feature of everyone's life. We are constantly confronted with tests, tight deadlines, new places, and new people . As a consequence, it may feel like stress is dictating your life leaving you unhappy or unhealthy. Realize that stress is one of those things that is highly unlikely to go away completely. However, by analyzing the stressors in your life, devising a plan and taking mental breaks, you can be well on your way to managing stress before stress manages you.