The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines stress as a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation. Most of us, particularly my fellow healthcare professionals, have an intimate knowledge of stress and do not need a formal definition. Some level of stress has been our constant companion as we have acquired both formal and practical life education over the years.
Now that we have moved past school and training into the world of careers and parenthood, the sources of stress have changed but the level remains constant if not increased. Since the reality of life stressors is not going away any time soon, the important thing is to learn techniques to deal with stress effectively.
Stress is not always a bad thing. The body’s reaction to acute stress leads to what we know as the flight or fight response. In the short term, this makes us more alert and prepared to take on necessary survival functions.
The type of stress that causes problems is chronic stress. The same chemicals that allow one to be ready for oncoming danger in a crisis situation can cause a breakdown in the body’s maintenance activities when present for too long.
Many times the effects of chronic stress are so insidious they are not recognized immediately. Most of us are so perpetually wound up we do not realize this is not a healthy state of being until some medical professional indicates we have a hypertensive disorder.
The physical manifestations of stress can include headache, chest pain, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. The psychosocial ramifications can be sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, irritability, rage, disordered eating, isolation behavior, lack of focus and substance abuse.
The best way to counter these effects is to identify sources of stress and develop methods to manage it.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website suggests the following tips for coping with stress:
o Note what you have accomplished at the end of the day rather than what you have been unable to do
o Set priorities for what must get done now and what can wait
o Recognize signs of your body’s response to stress
o Stay in touch with supportive people (family, friends, community groups, religious organizations)
o Avoid dwelling on problems
o Look into stress coping programs
o Have regularly scheduled healthy and relaxing activities
o Exercise regularly
o Get proper health care for existing or new health problems
o Seek help from a qualified mental health professional if you feel overwhelmed and unable to cope without using drugs or alcohol
Managing stress is important part of being well. Finding balance in life helps modify stress.
Work/life balance is a popular 21st century phrase. However, it implies there are only two aspects of being that need to be considered to achieve wellness. It conjures the image of a scale where work has to be balanced with everything else on the other side.
True life balance involves putting work, kids, partners, finances, emotional health, physical health, and spirituality all in their proper places. I think of it more like a hanging mobile where some items have to occupy a higher location or a larger space in order for everything to keep spinning.
Figuring out for ourselves where everything goes on that mobile is the first step in stress management and overall wellness.
If you would like help developing strategies to maintain your own wellness, please click here to request an Essence of Strength sample coaching conversation.
Dr Jattu Senesie is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, certified success coach, physician satisfaction specialist and speaker. She blogs about issues of self care and well-being in an effort to help her fellow altruistic high achievers find satisfaction in their success as early in their careers as possible.
