Stress
January 4, 2012
Did you know that stress is a normal part of life?
Stress is any state that causes people to lose their equilibrium, mentally, physically or emotionally. From this definition we can see that many things will cause stress and most of us will be under stress most of our waking hours. Stress can be caused by both good and bad experiences. Short-term stress such as what you may feel before an important job presentation, test or interview may give you the extra energy you need to perform at your best. On the other hand, constant worry over your job, school or family, may drain your energy and your ability to perform well. So you can see there is both positive and negative stress.
Did you know that stress is a common disorder experienced all over the world?
Millions of Americans suffer from stress each year. 3 out of 4 people say they experience stress at least twice a month. In the last 20 years, the number of people reporting that stress affects their work has gone up more that four times. One fourth of all the drugs prescribed in the United States go to the treatment of stress. The statistics on stress in Britain are comparable.
Did you know that stress can be a serious mental health concern?
Coping with stress and managing it are two different things. When we cope we temporarily reduce stress, but often experience damage in the long run. When we manage stress, change is required, either of the situation or our reaction to it. Some ways in which we cope with stress are; smoking, drinking too much, undereating/overeating, withdrawing from friends, zoning out for long hours in front of TV or computer, procrastinating, etc. However, if we choose to manage it, we attempt to avoid the stressor, alter the stressor, adapt to the stressor and or accept the stressor. We must determine which of these management interventions is best for the specific situation. If we persist in coping we are not addressing the stress directly.
Did you know that there are several causes of stress?
Causes of stress can be physical or emotional, and it is important to identify the cause.
Survival Stress- results from the fear that someone or something may physically hurt, you, and your body responds with a burst of energy so you will be better able to survive dangerous situations (fight) or escape it all together (flight).
Internal Stress- results when you worry about things you can do nothing about or worrying for no reason at all.
Environmental Stress- response to things around you that cause stress, such as noise, crowding, pressure from work or family
Fatigue and Overwork- builds up over a long time; it can be caused by working too much or too hard on your job, school, or home. It can also result from not knowing how to manage your time well or how to take time for rest and relaxation.
Did you know that there is ‘holiday stress’?
The whirlwind of gift-giving holidays, marketing blitzes, holiday parties, and activities that begin after Halloween, build to Thanksgiving, and continues gaining momentum through the end of the year is when holiday stress usually occurs. This season is meant to bring feelings of love and cheer, but more than 80% find the holiday season to be ‘somewhat’ or ‘very stressful’. Holiday stress can be caused by: 1) doing too much; 2) eating, drinking and spending too much; 3) too much togetherness; 4) not enough togetherness; 5) seasonal affective disorder; and 6) forgetting the “real reason for the Season”. The good thing about holiday stress is that it is predictable; we know when holiday stress will begin and we can make plans to reduce the amount of stress we experience and the negative impact it has on us. Holiday stress is not confined to just the season between Halloween and New Years; it can also occur around days like Valentine’s Day when there is the expectation that “love is in the air”. The expectations associated with it can also be stress-producing.
Did you know that stress affects children and teenagers as well as adults?
According to American Psychological Assn. (APA, 2009) 45% of teens (ages 13-17) report being more worried; 26% of tweens (ages 8-12) report being more worried. 30 % of children report being worried about the family’s financial situation. It was also found that there was a disconnect between the children’s feelings and their parents’ awareness. The reported effects of stress in children were 30% of tweens and 42% of teens say they get headaches; only 13% of parents report being aware of their children having headaches. 39% of tweens and 49% of teens report difficulty sleeping; only 13% of parents report being aware of their children having difficulty sleeping. And 25% of tweens and 39% of teens report eating too much or too little due to stress; only 8% of parents report being aware of this issue.
Did you know that untreated stress can have devastating effects on you?
Stress can contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes, and cause one to develop less serious illness like colds. It can also contribute to alcoholism, obesity, drug addiction, cigarette use, depression, and other harmful behaviors. Commonly reported health effects of untreated stress include 1) lying awake at night; 2) irritability or anger; 3) fatigue; 4) lack of interest, motivation or energy; 5) headaches; 6) feeling sad or depressed;
Did you know that the Bible addresses stress?
The word “stress” cannot be found in the Bible, but there are many references to it. We find references to trial and tribulations, troubles, hardships, difficulties, suffering and a myriad of other external life situations which contribute to stress (James 1:2; I Peter 1:6, Psalm 86:7 and many more). We also find references to our internal reactions to situations, i.e., troubled distressed, perplexed (John 12:27, Luke 12:50, II Corinthians 4:8) . As a result we know that “stress” is addressed and solutions are offered. One such solution can be found in Matthew 11:28 where we are encouraged to rest in God’s sufficiency; there are many others. We must remember as stated in James 1:12 “God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested.”
Did you know that stress is treatable?
All stress is treatable and some is predictable. Once you have identified the situations, people, and expectations that contribute to your feelings of stress, take a look at your habits, attitudes and excuses. You can make plans to reduce the amount of stress you experience and its impact on you, when you know the precipitants. Briefly, you can learn to manage your stress by: 1) avoiding unnecessary stress-learn to say “no”, and take control of your environment; 2) alter the situation- be willing to compromise, and express your feelings instead of bottling them up; 3) adapt to the stressor- reframe problems, and look at the big picture; and 4) accept the things you cannot change- don’t try to control the uncontrollable, and learn to forgive.
If you or someone you know is feeling stressed, let someone know who can help you or direct you to help, because it is available; contact the Pastoral Care and Counseling Commission at pccc@nationalcapitalbaptist.org for additional information or a referral.
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