Did you know that
there is both healthy and unhealthy stress? Some stress is
good for us. A job gets us up and moving in the
morning. A driving test means that we need to know the
rules of the road, and the basics of driving. New
responsibilities mean that we are still striving rather than
stagnating.
Stress is your physical
body's physical reaction to the demands that you have in your life
which can be both positive or negative demands. You probably
are aware of some of the signs of stress such
as continual exhaustion or lack of energy, aching
muscles, migraines, headaches, hot flashes, tight
stomach, dry throat, increased heartbeat, difficulty sleeping
or waking up in the middle of the night, heavy heart, not caring
about yourself or others like you used to, and just not having
time or energy for others. Both positive and negative
stress causes similar bodily reactions, so it is helpful to
learn to deal with it.
Do you think that
stress is the result of the outside pressures you are dealing
with related to your employment, money, relationships,
sex life, or health? Not so! Stress is
really an inside job. You choose how you respond to
external problems and pressures. Only you can give yourself
stress or reduce it.
So how do
you reduce it? Here are some effective stress
busters.
Check your
thinking. Living up to some idealized picture in our heads
adds stress. Are you telling yourself that it will be the end
of the world if you make a mistake at work, have a messy house,
don't finish everything on your list, or can't pay a bill on
time? In each of these examples you can change your stress
level by changing your thinking.
Are you attempting
to control someone else's behavior? Good
luck. You only have the ability to control your own
behavior. Yes, as parents, it is our responsibility to
give loving guidance to our children. Still, even our own
children will make their own decisions and mistakes.
Other ideas include using
exercise or being outside in
nature to blow of excess energy and get into a
more positive frame of mind. In fact, anything positive that
gets you to redirect your emotions can be
helpful. Do you have a favorite hobby? Do it to redirect your
emotions!
Is there someone who needs
your help? Changing the focus from you to
someone else often helps. Breathing
exercises that can be as simple as noticing your breathing
patterns, slowing it down, and breathing more deeply, or
meditation are effective ways to change your
bodily response to stress. Also helpful are the old
stand bys of eating healthfully (stay away from
drugs and alcohol) and getting enough rest.
In the meantime, learn to
accept and let go of the things you can't
change. Prioritize the things you want to do according to what is most
important to you, and focus on completing one
task at a time.
If you are feeling
overwhelmed for several weeks and you can't shake it, it may be
more than normal stress. Professional help may be needed. Call
Haley and Louann at Counseling Connections for a free initial
consultation: 303-721-0005.
