by Dr. Marge Blaine
All of us know what it is to feel stressed at one time or another. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, 43 percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. Furthermore, 75 to 90 percent of visits to a doctor are for stress-related complaints. Stress takes a toll on our lives, our jobs, our health, and our relationships.
The symptoms of stress vary from individual to individual. People suffering from stress may lose their appetite, experience disrupted sleep, or have such physical symptoms as an upset stomach, excessive sweating, diarrhea, heart palpitations, or lowered energy. Psychological symptoms might include feeling anxious, depressed or worried.
Stress puts us in a position of being responsible to accomplish more than we're able to. When we feel stressed we're unable to do the things which give us pleasure because we're too busy dealing with all we are faced with. Stress may also affect relationships with others who may assume that the person under stress is angry with them.
What causes stress differs from person to person. Each of us has different weaknesses or vulnerabilities and differing comfort levels. One person might look forward to Thanksgiving with anticipation as one of the few times the family gets together. Another might dread the holiday because the holiday brings back unpleasant memories. For that individual, Thanksgiving becomes a cause of stress. Some of us thrive on busy schedules, moving easily from one demanding activity to another. Such an individual's stress level may be much higher than that of the person who can comfortably handle just one decision or activity at a time.
There is also often a difference in handling short-term stress in contrast to anticipating long-term or prolonged stress. We can be pretty sure that short-term stress is going to end soon. Experienced teachers, for example, know that the first week or two of school is particularly stressful and manage to cope with the difficulties of crying children, missing books, and room changes with equanimity because they've learned things will eventually settle down. But a teacher given an auditorium used by other groups throughout the day for a classroom, may feel overwhelmed because there is no relief in sight.
Relaxation exercises, visual imagery, deep breathing, and biofeedback are techniques which can be utilized to reduce stress. It also helps to prioritize responsibilities and avoid taking on more than one can handle comfortably. Although stress may be an inevitable part of life, handling it appropriately can reduce its impact on our lives.