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Thursday, March 30, 2006
Lisao: Managing stress
By Dominador L. Lisao, Ed. D.
Paradigm shift
STRESS has been defined as an activity or condition that requires coping. Physical cause of stress or stressors may include an element as uncontrollable as the weather, noxious noise, pollution, or disease causing bacteria and viruses. A broken romance, financial disaster and the death of a loved one are serious social stressors. Even positive experiences such as marriage and childbirth require significant coping. Anger, frustration, joy, grief, fear, happiness, embarrassment are sources of psychological stress.
Individual responses to stress vary greatly. Aging seems to make some people more vulnerable or perhaps less resilient when stressed. Certain occupations are perceived stressful. Some lifestyle factors such as use of alcohol and caffeine are thought to compromise coping ability. Perhaps the single most significant determinant of the stress response, however, is one's attitude toward life.
How to cope with stress?
The first step is coping stress is to learn how to listen to our bodies and understanding the meaning of body signals. A headache maybe the initial warning of undue stress for one person, while another may experience abdominal pain and indigestion. To ignore or minimize these messages is unwise and can be dangerous. Another important factor to consider is conscious acceptance of the possibility that the symptom or symptoms are stress-related.
A balanced diet comprised of a wide variety of nutritious foods help prepares ones body to cope with stress. Fresh fruits and vegetables, along with nuts, grains, legumes and dairy products provide all the essential nutrients required for energy, growth and body upkeep.
Aerobic exercise induces the production of biochemical substance within the body that helps resolve the strain of stress. This includes thirty minutes of walking, jogging, cycling or swimming three to four times a week.
Adequate rest and sleep is as important as vigorous physical activity. The body's physiological batteries require the periodic recharging that takes place during sleep.
Friends can be a big help when one is confronted by difficult or stressful circumstances. A listening ear, a shoulder to lean on, or a reassuring smile may be just what is needed to restore hope and provide incentive to face life's challenges productively.
Feelings, attitudes and beliefs are recognized as major determinants of the state of health. One's ability to manage stress constructively depends on a healthy emotional state, a positive mental outlook and a belief that life has transcendent meaning.
Here are some guideposts for happiness according to Reverend Sabuay as cited by Julie Y. Daza in her column Medium Rare:
Free your heart from hatred. (Hatred sucks; it occupies the spare reserved for moment of joy and jubilation and then you become what you hate.)
Free your mind from worry. (Ninety percent of your worries don't materialize anyway. The good priest has never been married, with children.)
Live simply. (It's cheaper too!)
Be true to yourself, be at peace with yourself. (Read Desiderata.)
Give more ( so other can receive more. After turning the other check once to often, it's time to turn your wallet inside-out.)
Expect Less. (Buddhism blames desire for unhappiness. Ben Franklin, who was never a Buddhist, advises not to expect is not to be disappointed.
Before I close this week's column, in behalf of Leganes Elementary School teaching staff, I would to express my sincerest gratitude of thanks to the following people who have contributed to the success of the different activities we have this month: Board Member Cecilia H. Capadosa, Pastor Tito Hope Baticados and to all the supporters of Hubon Misteryoso. May your tribe increase.
(March 30, 2006 issue)
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