Coping with stress
Ever felt like someone put some rocks in your already heavy basket and punched holes at bottom? Ever felt that you are you doing the best you can, giving everything you have, but the world doesn’t notice, and somehow it seems you are running on spot? Whether it is the job, school, relationships, or family, we all tend to get a little stressed out sometimes. Sometimes we build mountains in our heads when the problem is really a molehill, but other times there really is a mountain out there.
Stress is something that we should not take for granted. Oftentimes we talk about being a workaholic and taking some amount of pride in being consistently consumed with one’s labour. In fact, some of us actually feel more meaningful and more relevant to society because of the rigidity of our schedules. We somehow feel that because we are so busy working that good things are owed to us. After all, we are doing so much good, we barely have time to rest, and we are making a large contribution to the community and society. But let us not kid ourselves; as much as it is good to work, to succeed and to earn, it is ridiculous to take pride in being stressed and in being unable to take time out to relax. This is negative stress.
On the other side of the spectrum are those among us, who do not suffer from an iota of stress. They are in a constant state of inertia; no activity, no pull to do, to earn, to change, but only a continuous non-progressive state of passiveness. This is also negative stress.
Stress is the “wear and tear” our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing social, financial and psychological environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. However, as a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a new relationship, we experience stress as we readjust our lives. In adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it.
So there is good in stress, but it depends on the attitude with which we handle it, as well as the kind of stress that we are undergoing. The pressure of an exam date can propel us to set up a study schedule and focus on getting good grades. But if the pressure of that date is added to the death of a loved one, or being made redundant at work with your husband being a little less sensitive than desired, then this could turn out to be leaning on the negative side of stress. How do we deal with this kind of stress? The stress that has us feeling like a frowning clown joggling innumerable balls.
Here are a few pointers to help us cope in this jungle of our lives:
Maintain good emotional health. Develop meaningful friendships and relationships based on shared interests, trust, understanding and a deep sense of trust and commitment.
Learn to moderate your physical reaction to stress. Practice slow, deep breathing to help bring your heart rate and respiration back to normal. Relaxation techniques can reduce muscle tension. Get a massage every now and then. It is OK to be pampered.
Maintain and build good physical health. Exercise for cardiovascular fitness three to four times a week (such as walking, swimming, cycling, or jogging). Take time to eat well-balanced, nutritious meals with a friend and enjoy the eating and sharing process. Try to maintain your ideal body weight, and avoid all form of stimulants e.g. nicotine and excessive caffeine a little coffee can give us the extra push sometimes, but not when you’re overdoing it. Lastly, relax, turn off the television and get enough sleep. Put on some instrumental music, relax your mind, it’s been working all day.
Become more aware of your stressors and deal with it. Do not ignore the things that stress you. Look at it, analyse it, and determine to handle. Success in life is not always about the absence of hardships, but rather about the attitude with which we deal with each struggle. So understand your stressors, and learn to deal with them and this may be an arrogant boss or an insensitive mate, but determine to understand yourself and your environment and sustain balance and control.
Be realistic. You are not Wonder Woman. Never bite off more than you can chew. Choose your activities and friendships carefully.
Always remember, some amount of stress is good, too much stress is bad, but balance is attained with the attitude we adopt to deal with it. Be proactive, it is your life.