Stress Managementfor Life
Stress management is something that we will all need to practice eventually... ...whether we think about it right now or not. Why? We’re living in an age of ever-increasing stress. Family. Job. Bills. Health. Future. Stressful things pile up on us every day. Sometimes they seem inescapable! On top of these normal life stressors, there is an extraordinary amount of excess information that our overloaded minds have to sort through all the time. Cell phones, PDA’s, Internet, entertainment programming and all of the mind-numbing advertisements that go along are all over the place SCREAMING for a slice of your attention! It's important to be able to identify the specific areas in your life that are causing your stress. Click Here to review the common Sources of Stress
Leading researchers in the fields of medicine, psychology and sociology all agree that stress is taking a heavy toll on: -our physical health -our mental well being -our families and other relationships Stress management is the collection of actions, attitudes and resources that we use (or fail to use) to deal with this pressure. Click Here to go to an excellent Definition of Stress
What are we doing about stress?Different people have different ways of dealing with stress. 
- Some are indifferent. They go about their day oblivious to how the many pressures are affecting their lives. The subtle
signs and symptoms of stress
go unrecognized. It’s not until a relationship starts to fall apart, a calamity strikes or their body finally starts to break under the strain that they start to look around and recognize that managing stress is serious business.
Click Here to read about the Signs and Symptoms of Stress.
- Some feed off of the stress. They like it! It drives them to perform. They don’t want stress reduction! Stress, caffeine and deadlines fuel their mad race for the top. Everyone around them is pulled into their whirlpool of frenetic activity. If this person is your boss or your spouse, you know exactly what I’m talking about! If this person is you it’s time to get serious about how your lifestyle is affecting your health and the well-being of those around you.
Click Here to see my growing collection of Stress Resources
- Some live in denial, trying to escape the stress by numbing their minds with alcohol or abusing other controlled substances. Stress management? .. Yes. Healthy? .. No Way!
Coping with stress
through “self medication” is destructive and leads to a host of negative mental, social and economic consequences.
Click Here to learn more effective methods for Coping with Stress
What Should we do about Stress?There are three main ways that we can deal with stress... I’ve listed them in order of effectiveness and importance: Reducing Stress… Managing Stress… and Coping with Stress.
First: Reducing Stress This is accomplished by 1) decreasing the number of stressors in our lives and 2) changing the way we process the stressors internally.
Click Here for more about Stress Reduction
Second: Managing Stress We practice stress management by manipulating the stressors in our lives to bring them under control. Time management, listing-making and prioritization are key aspects of stress management.
Click Here for more about Managing Stress
Third: Coping with Stress When we have reduced the number of stressors in our life as much as possible and prioritized our lives through stress management, we must learn to cope with what’s left of our stress. If the first two steps are properly handled, coping with stress is very helpful in attaining the joy and peace of a rich, fulfilling life.
Click Here for more about Coping with Stress
- Some people are serious about fighting for joy and fulfillment. They’ve walked the other roads, and are looking for something new. Christ was speaking to these people when He said: "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not! And if worry can't do little things like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?" (Luke 12:25-26) There is an abundance of stress resources for these peace-seekers, starting, of course, with Christ Himself: "...if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." (Luke 12:28-32) Everyone’s stress comes from a unique direction and is processed in his or her own individual, way. I know that one passage isn’t going to solve all stress management issues. If you’re seeking the peace that “passes understanding”, consider starting a supportive coaching relationship.
See my growing collection of Stress Resources
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