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tress is generally accepted as a fact of life by most people; however, not all people experience similar events with identical responses. Even so, persistent stress levels can affect people in a universal way, both psychologically and physically (Oman, Hedberg, Thoresen, 2006). Regardless of the source, not all stress is necessarily “bad,” but most people still could benefit from some kind of stress reduction. Finding ways to reduce persistent or recurring stress, the kind that leads to exhaustion, frustration, fatigue, or burnout for example, can improve psychological and physiological well being.
Stress occurs when the mind and/or body demands (or seems to demand) more than the mind/body has the resources to supply. The difference between healthy stress (the kind that serves to build or improve functioning) and unhealthy stress (the kind that serves to wear out or decrease functioning) is sometimes hard to identify. Mental and emotional stress are distinctly different from physical and biological stress, yet similarities also exist, and effects on the mind and body cannot be ignored (Smith, Richardson, Hoffman, and Pilkington, 2005).
cisions. An argument with a peer, spouse, or employer would not automatically indicate disaster (real or imagined), and even if intense feelings surfaced, a sense of safety and security remains. The stress manifests in the conflict as a matter to be addressed and resolved (see “Resolving Conflict,” Honor Cord, February, 2007). When difficult discussions, conversations, or decisions repetitively cause someone to have distorted presumptions of ended relationships, disastrous consequences, and unfounded doubts about safety and security, that person is experiencing an unhealthy level of stress. Stress reduction is important for multiple reasons, individually and collectively. Stress affects physical and mental health (Smith, Allred, Morrison, and Carlson, 1989); employability (Harris and Arendt, 1998); is a source of mental illness diagnoses, addictions, and relapse (Goeders, 2004); and literally costs the United States billions of dollars per year from resulting and secondary illnesses and death (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2004; Stinchcomb, 2004). So what are some ways to reduce and prevent stress?
In a biological sense, stress might be exemplified in the runner who has had enough rest, food, and water intake to exert sufficient amounts of energy to run for thirty minutes. There will be degrees and levels of stress during the thirty-minute run, but generally the preparations (inputs of rest, food, and water) will equal the exertions (outputs of running for a half an hour). If the runner decides to increase the time to forty-five minutes, something usually makes the forty-sixth minute unlikely or impossible (dehydration, dizziness, shin splints, or maybe even chest pains).
From a psychological perspective, healthy stress might be exemplified in a person’s ability to experience a semblance of comfort, satisfaction, or emotional balance in the midst of difficult discussions, conversations, or de104 InSpire 104 InSpire
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Gather information and ask questions so that you are fully informed about events that are occurring that seem stressful. Information helps reduce stress by reducing the number of unknowns in any given situation — disseminating information has been shown to lower stress in those who distribute and in those who receive it (Kitamura, 2005).
Exercise (McEwen, 1998). Linking stressful events (real or perceived) to physical activity is one way to directly and positively combat what otherwise might be harmful levels of stress.
Watch what you eat. Too much fat not only hits the waistline but also affects cognitive functioning and alters the level of neurotransmitters in the brain. If levels of three key stress combatants — dopamine,
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