Stress and Stress Management

Stress is the result of any environmental factor that causes a change in the life, or attitude of a person. These external factors are called stressors. Stressors can be both positive and negative. The death of a family member, loss of a job, personal finances, as well as health concerns are all obvious events that result in stress. Weddings, the purchase of a new home, or dinner with relatives are also stressors. These events are viewed in a positive life, but they are still a deviation from the norm, so stress is a result.

There are five coping strategies described in Essentials of Understanding Psychology, 8^th edition, (Feldman, 2009, p.427). These are some of the ways that people may employ to adapt to the stress in their lives.

Some people may find it beneficial to view each stressful situation as a challenge to be overcome. For example, college papers have always been a major stressor for me, and at times have caused me to lose sleep. I now view each assigned paper as an opportunity not only to learn, but to demonstrate my knowledge of a given topic.

If you find yourself in a potentially threatening situation, consider the positive implications of this particular situation. One example is the impending end of a relationship. While this may bring about drastic life changes, they will not all be negative. You may take solace in the fact that you will have more time with friends, you will not have to ask anyone to put the seat down, and you will not have to chase socks around the floor on laundry day.

If, for some reason you are not able to meet your goals, find new ones. What this means is that even if you have spent your life preparing for a career in medicine, and because of circumstances beyond your control are unable to work in that profession, find something else that you can do.

You can change your physiological reaction to stress by taking physical action. Aerobic exercise, running, yoga, or meditation can change the reactions that you have to stressors.

Anticipate stress and develop a proactive attitude. If you know in advance that you will encounter a particular situation that causes stress, like surgery, take time to prepare yourself for the event. Research the procedure, make arrangements for someone to care for your home and pets, and take care of everything that will need to be done during your recuperation.

Advance planning is the method that I employ most often to help me deal with stressors in my life. I am at my best when I know what to expect, and know that everything is taken care of before the occurrence of a stressful event. For me, the little loose ends are the things that push my stress level beyond control.

In conclusion, stress affects everyone in different ways, and it is very important to find and tailor a coping strategy to suit our unique personalities. The worst possible way to deal with stress is ignoring or avoiding it. Stress is a part of everyday life, and developing a good stress management strategy is important to living not only a happier, but healthier and more productive life.