Centers: Stressors can be controlled by reacting in positive way
All of us have been stressed -- the tension we feel when facing something threatening, new or unpleasant. A certain amount of stress is healthy and can be motivating. For example, if you have to make a presentation at work it is stress that motivates you to prepare in order to reduce the anxiety of public speaking. Stress can help you meet life’s challenges, cause your heart rate to rise and give you an adrenaline or energy rush in a fight-or-flight response to danger.
When does healthy stress become too much stress or distress? Where is the line that, once crossed, may result in mental and physical problems and damage to relationships? These are hard questions to answer because what is stressful for one person may not affect another in the same way.
There are many sources of stress. Financial stressors could include bankruptcy, child support, being on a fixed income or reduced income, and even receiving financial gain. Daily hassles such as car problems, oversleeping, waiting in lines, chores, or forgetting something can lead to increased stress. Environmental stressors might include traffic, weather, noise level or overcrowding. Family-related stress includes arguing with a family member, a child leaving or returning home, death, illness, moving, divorce, separation or marriage. Health-related stress could include chronic pain, illness, sleep disorders and loss of hearing or sight. Lastly, job-related stress includes being fired or laid off, retirement, too much work or problems with co-workers or a supervisor.
Because people are comfortable with different levels of stress, it takes self-awareness to recognize the threshold between stress and distress. Most people will have emotional and behavioral symptoms when approaching this line. When you find yourself getting angry or anxious, depressed, having problems making decisions, feeling hopeless or powerless, feeling trapped, worrying more or getting upset more easily, these could be symptoms of emotional stress. Behavioral changes related to too much stress include: increased use of alcohol, arguing more with family, problems concentrating, overeating or undereating, withdrawing from family and friends, being late to work or neglecting your appearance.
How you respond to stressful situations may in part depend on your personality. Some people can reduce stress through humor or positive action. Learn to accept what cannot be changed and to exercise control over what you can change.
When you are faced with stress, stop and ask yourself if you can control the stressor. If you can, think about how you can react in a positive way. Find strategies that work for you and that help to reduce or manage your stress so it doesn’t become distress: get up on time so you are not rushed to work or school, ask for help when you need it, take care of your health, challenge negative thinking and learn to say no.