By Gabriel Rogers, PhD
Senior Health Care Specialist, Cigna
In our society stress can take a physical and mental toll on our bodies. When stress is not managed properly it can become a health issue that affects people of all ages. According to the Centers for Disease Control, stress can be defined as the following: A condition that is often characterized by symptoms of physical or emotional tension. It is a reaction to a situation where a person feels threatened or anxious. Stress can be positive (e.g., preparing for a wedding) or negative (e.g., dealing with a natural disaster). With a comprehensive definition in mind, it’s important to note that all stress is not bad. In fact, a big part of our productivity and personal performance is driven by the positive stress that helps us reach for our goals. While certain levels of stress may have its benefits, too much negative stress can be damaging to one’s physical and emotional health. From a mental health standpoint, conditions such as depression and anxiety are ignited when an individual becomes overwhelmed with their life stressors. Let’s face it, life can create some challenging problems that can lead us to believe that the pressure is unmanageable. In order to counter the devastating effects of stress, I’d like to offer you five brief points to consider that should help manage stress successfully.
- Place a definition on the exact problem before overreacting. For example, ask yourself, “What exactly am I worried about?”
- Once you define the problem, began to think strategically about how you can change the problem. What part of the issue is within the domain of your control? What resources do you have that would be useful in resolving the problem?
- Do your best to view the problem from an optimistic standpoint. Positive perspective is always important when trying to sort out a solution.
- Implement your plan of action. Remember, small effective steps are always a good way to reduce a stressor. You may not be able to fix the problem in one day, simply do what you can today and leave the rest for tomorrow and the next day.
- Finally, celebrate milestones of successfully resolving the stressor. It’s important to take time to reflect on your growth and how you can avoid having the same symptoms of stress in the future. This may mean that you become “proactive” so that the same stressor won’t be so overwhelming in the future.
Do your best with the tools that you have. Don’t forget to enlist the support of friends and loved ones who might be able to lend a helping hand or simply listen to your concerns. Venting can be very useful when you’re trying to manage the cares of life.