Learn To Control Your Personal Stress Or Why I Need To Chill Out

Hi -
Dr. Robert S. Elliott, MD, and insightful physician wrote, “Rule No 1 Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff. Rule No. 2 It’s All Small Stuff”

There are lots of things going on in the world today. Unfortunately, the negative events seem to be more sensationalized by the media and/or individuals who appear to derive pleasure by perpetuating such stories. Add these “external” events to our personal anxieties, and we have all the makings of stress.

Stress producing situations are common occurrences and happen to everyone. The body’s reaction to stress is essentially the same irrespective of it’s’ cause. Not all stress is bad. When it is negatively based it is call “distress.” On the other hand, good or “eustress” follows significant positive events, such as winning a prize or an award.

The body’s reaction to a stressor might be to confront the situation or to get away from it. Also called the “fight or flight” syndrome. We are all wired to respond to various scenarios based on our unique personalities and experience. Both physical and emotional responses are activated and can involve increased heartbeat and respiration, dilated pupils and other physiological manifestations. It can also entail one or more psychological conditions, e.g., irritability, illicit use of substances, moodiness, etc.

There are a number of ways to respond and/or mitigate distress. It could include the following:
• Confronting the situation
• Learning relaxation technique
• Exercising
• Balancing work with recreation
• Getting away as appropriate from the stressful event
• Volunteer - Do something for someone else
• Understand your limitations
• Prioritize your concerns - minimizing those less relevant
• Talk to a trusted individual or professional
• Avoid self medication, including illicit or inappropriate substances
• Get plenty of sleep
• Train yourself to appreciate yourself and develop a positive mindset
• Consider stressful events as challenges

A point to remember is as the television commercial espouses, “You have only one life. Learn to enjoy it.”

              - The Clutterman

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