ÔUNDERSTANDING STRESSÕ
So much is written these days about
stress and stress management. When I am asked to speak publicly about massage,
the sponsor will frequently ask if I could please address the issue of stress.
A large percentage of our clients come to the office looking for ways to deal
with their stress as if it were some uninvited visitor that has intruded on
their otherwise peaceful lives. HereÕs a news flash that some of you may not
want to hear- you were the one that invited this culprit in, and you the only
that can send this uninvited guest packing.
Who is this culprit stress, this
thief who robs us of our life and energies? The dictionary definition of stress
is a strain or straining force exerted upon a body. An applied stress tends to
strain or deform shape. The definition goes on to say that the intensity of
such a force is usually measured in pounds per square inch. The human body is
not excluded from these same universal laws that govern the rest of our
physical universe.
Each of us needs a certain level of
stress to be able to carry out and perform our regular and daily routine tasks.
As a matter of fact, without a certain level of stress at an optimal and
healthy level, it would be impossible for us to work live or engage in any activities.
Therefore, a healthy amount of stress is a definite need for human life.
The key is to determine what is too
much stress, and when we need to alter our daily activities to reduce our
stress. The difficult part is that there is no one single answer. What one
individual may find stressful is just seen as a challenge to someone else. In
other words, itÕs our perception of things. When we perceive too many
situations in our lives as crises, we chronically over activate our flight or
fight response, which equates to an unhealthy stress.
HereÕs a simple example of how a
healthy stress can and will become an unhealthy stress. My daughter was an
excellent student in her years at middle school. She loved her teachers and
found the work challenging. By the time she entered junior high they wanted her
to take accelerated classes, which I kept telling them, I didnÕt agree. I
remember sitting in her counselorÕs office finding all the reasons I gave being
met with resistance as to why I didnÕt think it would be appropriate for her at
this time. I recall finally saying, Òlook, this is a child that needs a lot of
time just to sit in a tree.Ó I relented which was a huge mistake for her as I
watched the challenge of advanced classes go from a healthy stress to and unhealthy
stress.
Stress can be a domineering boss
that reminds us subconsciously of a father that we could never please, a
traffic jam that makes us fearful of being late, or a work task for which we
are poorly suited causing feelings of anxiety and failure. It can truly be just
about anything.
The two key elements to help you
define a healthy verses an unhealthy stress are how well matched you are to the
task at hand, and your perception of that task. If you are naturally a
high-energy individual you wonÕt be well suited for sitting all day at a
computer terminal. Your perception of things is the variable over which you can
exert some control. Listen to your self-talk to plug into the subconscious
message (boring, tired, stupid, not up to your abilities) you are sending and
is it valid given the situation?
Of course, there are many other
ways of reducing stress including improved diet, more rest, more playtime. In
other words taking the time to slow down and live your life instead of just
racing through it. Till next time, Rebecca
8/14/08