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STRESS - Should you be Concerned?

Article written by Christine Arulappen.

Stress is not unusual in today’s society, it affects almost everyone. The increase in daily stresses and pressures places more and more strain on our relationships with one another and sense of community. The increased pace of our society along with environmental factors such as air and noise pollution, crowding, and our exposure to violence may all contribute to our current levels of stress.1 Stress also has a major financial impact on the economy. It has been estimated that the total health and productivity cost of worker stress to American business is between $50 and $150 billion each year.3 Occupational stress also affects work-place productivity and often results in an increase in staff turnover.

But what exactly is stress?

Daily stress is a normal part of living. Stress can result from simple situations such as deciding what one is going to wear today to dealing with more complex issues such as divorce or a death in the family. Although we often associate stress with negative situations, it can also result from more positive feelings or events. There are also a number of physical as well as chemical and hormonal changes that occur when we experience a stressful event. Perhaps you can relate with the adrenalin rush that causes your heart to beat faster or the butterflies in your stomach. This kind of stress can be useful in helping us get through something e.g. finishing of an assignment that is due the next day or giving a public talk.4 Chronic (long term) stress however can cause negative physical changes such as an increasing fat storage, loss of essential minerals such as potassium and magnesium, increase in cholesterol levels, lowering of your immune system and a number of other health problems.1 Some stress related health conditions include the following:

  • Heart disease1
  • Hypertension1
  • Migraines1
  • Irritable bowel disease1
  • Muscle tension1
  • Stomach ulcers1
  • Anxiety/depression 1
  • Insomnia1

Can stress be managed?

The good news however is that we can modify our body’s stress response and prevent associated health problems by changing our attitudes and making some lifestyle modifications. Rather than focusing on the negatives of the situation it may be more productive to focus on the positives aspects. We can do this by:

  • Appreciating our individual strengths and limitations1
  • Focusing on positive aspects of our work and personal lives1
  • Setting realistic goals and priorities1

We can also manage our stress levels by including stress management and self-renewal activities as part of our weekly routine. Examples of these activities may include:

  • Deep breathing exercises,
  • Journaling,
  • Gardening,
  • Fishing,
  • Engaging in physical activity
  • Or just having a nice cup of tea with a good friend.

Another strategy is known as the five R’s strategy. You may want to use the five R’s strategy to collectively build your stress management plan and help you better cope with stress.2 The five R’s strategy of coping is as follows:

  • Rethink: Change the way you think about potential stressors.2
  • Reduce: Cut back on the amount of activities (unenjoyable as well as pleasurable) in your life.2
  • Relax: Put your body into a relaxed state.2
  • Release: Purge the by-products of stress through physical activity.2
  • Reorganise: Increase your overall level of health (physical, social, spiritual, mental, emotional, occupational and environmental).2

We can see that while a little bit of stress is normal and may even be beneficial, long term stress is not such a good thing. So if you find that you are constantly stressed, take a look at the different aspects of your life and apply some of the above suggestions. It may occupy a bit of time initially but will be worth it in the long run.

References

  1. Antai-Otong, Deborah, 2001. Creative Stress-Management Techniques for Self-Renewal. Dermatology Nursing 13(1) p.31-39.
  2. Blonna, Richard, 2006. Coping with Stress in a Changing World (3rd edition). Mc Graw Hill, New York, USA.
  3. HumanNature@work.com, 2002-2008. STATS & QUOTES [Online]. Available at http://www.humannatureatwork.com/serious.htm [Accessed June 4th 2009].
  4. Milliken, Tammi F et al, 2007. The impact of Stress Management on Nurse Productivity and Retention: Scope of the Problem, Nurs Econ [Online] 25(4) p. 203-210. Available at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/562717 [Accessed 20th May 2009].

 

 


Last updated 17 June 2009