Living Outside The Lines: Got Stress?

by, Becky J Miller

Stress is a fact of life.  According to the National Institute of Health, “stress is how the brain and body respond to any demand.  Every type of demand such as exercise, work, school, major life changes or traumatic events – can be stressful.”

Avoiding stress is an exercise in futility; even someone living alone on a deserted island is liable to encounter stress via inclement weather patterns, hunger/difficulty finding food, animals, or any other uncontrollable situation.  Stress happens.

Certainly, there are factors we can deploy to help control stressors, but what about those days when everything that can possibly go wrong has, and it’s only 10 a.m.?  What then? How we deal with stress ultimately determines our life outlook, and potentially our life expectancy.

Internalizing stress is no better than exploding because of it.  Both mechanisms can impact health.  Over time chronic stress may lead to suppressed immune, digestive, sleep and reproductive systems, potentially causing them to stop working normally.

Our responses to stress are as unique as our personalities.  For some individuals stress leads to digestive symptoms, for others headaches, sleeplessness, sadness, anger or irritability.  Proneness to frequent viral infections such as the flu or colds may also be indicative of chronic stress.

Traumatic stress such as the sudden death of a loved one may cause temporary symptoms of mental illness, from which most people recover naturally.  However, routine stress, causing continued strain on the body may contribute to serious health issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and anxiety.

Stress kills.  Some statistics show that 110 million people die each year as a direct result of stress.  There is good news, though; we can live long and healthy lives in spite of stress.  We need only to be aware of its impact and educate ourselves on how to prevent it from overtaking our lives.

Exercising regularly serves as an instant mood booster and stress reducer.  I can testify to the truth of this statement from first-hand experience; I am much less stressed and cope better with life’s frustrations when I hit the track for a morning run.

Not a runner?  That’s okay.  It doesn’t take much effort, just 30 minutes of walking per day can do the trick, that’s two fifteen minute breaks scheduled right into an 8 hour work day.  Instead of going to the vending machine for a Snickers, take a lap or two around the parking lot!

Relaxing activities such as yoga, painting, scrapbooking, or knitting also help reduce stress.  My employer offers twice weekly yoga classes during lunch.  I was not interested at first thinking yoga was more spiritual in nature, but a friend convinced me to try and two years later I still look forward to yoga days.  It unwinds me, gives me a temporary break from the world, and keeps my runners muscles from being chronically sore.

The most important component for reducing stress, don’t be a Lone Ranger.  Connecting with people, i.e., friends, family and community or religious organizations that can provide emotional support is vitally important.

There is no shame in asking for help, you never know, someone else might be stressed wondering how they can engage with others, not knowing where to start.  You’re reaching out to them for help might be the exact prescription both of you need.

Until Next Time,

Becky J Miller ~ Warrior Princess

Becky J Miller is a contributor and is exclusive to SM Corridor News. You can read more of Becky’s columns in Lifestyle.