Is Stress a Positive or Negative Force in Your Life?

 

Is Stress a Positive or Negative Force in Your Life?

Stress can be either a positive or negative force.  If it is occasional and manageable, then it can be healthy.  But stress that is prolonged and unmanageable could potentially cause a lot of harm.

Occasional stress can provide healthy benefits to accomplish important tasks and to meet life goals.  Hormones are released that strengthen neural connections in the brain.  Experiences that bring mild stress help a person develop coping skills for the inevitable future stressors.  Stress can be a motivator for meeting a deadline, too.

But what if a person has several stressors- a change in life circumstances, noise, clutter, isolation, interpersonal conflict, caring for relatives, financial concerns, physical illness and burnout from work? 

So many stressors can result in such things as sudden anger, feeling overwhelmed, constant worry, depression, exhaustion, constant colds, lack of concentration, mood swings, letting yourself go, and lack of time.  If such experiences keep adding up there could be real consequences for wellbeing.

Prolonged exposure to unmanageable levels of stress increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, frequent cold and flu infections, anxiety and depression. 

So what are some ways to cope with stress?  Here are some ideas to consider:

·         Set aside plenty of time for sleep each day or night.  A person with a sleeping disorder may need to seek professional help.  

·         Eat nourishing foods as these will make the immune system stronger and improve energy levels.  

·         Regularly engage in relaxation, mindfulness, meditation, gratitude, and spirituality practices as these can dramatically reduce stress and increase resilience. 

·         Exercise regularly.  Even if it is only five minutes each day, aerobic activity such as brisk walking can relieve anxiety.  Aerobic exercise for twenty minutes three times per week can improve mood and make it easier to deal with psychological stressors.  Adding an additional ten minutes to these three times per week exercise sessions can boost the physiological response to stress and increase self-esteem.

·         Manage financial resources by practicing careful planning and budgeting and seeking financial counseling if needed.  If you owe money to someone or a company, try to set up a payment plan that you can live with and that satisfies all parties involved.  This may bring some peace of mind.

·         Reduce work hours or take some time off, if possible.  If you have a work supervisor, talk to him/her about your workload or work environment.

·         Get help.  Talking with a trusted person can be a step toward positive change when you are facing a tough situation.

·         Help others.  Helping others increases sense of worth and self-confidence, decreases the risk of depression, improves mental agility, and protects your body from the negative physiological effects of stress.


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 By Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor 
  Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure.

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Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

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