Are You Winning The Stress Battle? © Dr. Eileen Silva 2006

Traffic! High prices! Unemployment! Terrorists! Stress! Stress! Stress! Battling stress is a common problem in America today. But, how well do you recognize this enemy’s effects? Have you prepared good battle plans?

I’m sure you recognize that people who suffer from headaches, chest pain, pounding heart, high blood pressure, clenched jaws, angry outbursts, and grinding teeth have unhealthy amounts of stress in their lives, but there are other symptoms that you might not so readily associate with stress. For example, would you think of stress if you experienced forgetfulness, insomnia, tight and sore muscles, hyperventilation or shallow breathing, fatigue, constipation or diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, hives, decreased sex drive, binge eating, depression, or loss of appetite?

With these, and many more, unhealthy and traumatic results on your daily life, stress is indeed an enemy to battle. I suggest that you battle it on two main fronts: the Pre-stress Front and the Post-Stress Front.

While you cannot avoid all instance of stress, you can prevent some attacks by adopting the “regular habits” approach to life. Whenever possible, create regular habits for yourself like regular wake and sleep hours, mealtimes, exercising schedules, work and play schedules, dietary habits, housekeeping habits, and health maintenance. In addition, avoid sweets, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, overtime, and self-doubt or self-condemnation. These steps may reduce the amount of stress that you have to battle.

Despite your best efforts, you will experience stress in your life . . . at home, at work, out in the world, or just watching the evening news. When these attacks come, recognize them and retaliate swiftly to minimize the effects on your body. When you realize a situation is stressing you, step away from the problem and relax a few minutes, calm yourself, and rethink the situation. Avoid stressful relationships, situations, and places when you can. Regularly take action to get rid of stress and to prevent its buildup in your body. Exercise, dance, run, climb, breathe deeply, play racquetball, have a good cry, visit your favorite spa, or go shopping; do whatever relaxes you, works out unhealthy stress hormones, and takes your mind off stressful things for a while.

Don’t forget one of the best stress-busters – laughter. I’ll never forget that when I was a Home Economics teacher, one of my students invented a recipe which erroneously listed “1 cup of chicken breath” as a key ingredient. I first read the recipe at 2:00 AM and burst into hysterical laughter. I shared his chicken breath recipe with the other teachers, my students, and my family. To this day, I smile when I think of it.

Don’t let stress catch you unaware. Be ready to attack and defeat this ever-present enemy.