Stress is unavoidable, but can be beaten
November 20, 2009
Judy Gerstel
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Q: Which of the following statements are true? And which are false?
A: Stress is something that happens to you.
B: Stress is something you feel.
C: Stress is bad.
D: Stress is good.
E: Stress is unavoidable.
F: Stress can be beaten
Stress starts when you start the day. Maybe it's getting the kids off to school. Or racing for the train. Or stalling in morning gridlock on the Gardiner.
You think, "I haven't even got to work yet and I'm stressed out."
Stress is such a constant companion in our lives that it's strange to think it didn't even exist a century ago. Or at least not in the way we know it and refer to it,
Early in the 20th century, Canadian endocrinologist Hans Selye coined the word "stress" and identified and explained the concept.
He defined stress as "the non-specific response of the body to any demand placed upon it."
Selye came to be known as "the father of stress."
And the mother of all stress? In a word, loss.
Loss of employment. Loss of a spouse. Loss of a child. Loss of a parent, a sibling, a lover, a friend. Loss of health, loss of nurturing. Loss of liberty, loss of independence, loss of status.
A. Stress is something that happens to you. False.
When people say there's too much stress in their lives, they mean there are too many stressors – events, situations, demands – that are making their lives too stressful. Stressors can be overwhelming in their quantity and their quality. They can pile up and they can knock you down. Stress can even come from within, in the form of disease, mental or physical.
B. Stress is something you feel. True.
Stress is your emotional and physiological response to the demands and pressures that confront you. Some people feel stress more keenly and respond to demands with more intensity. Other people are more laid back and cope with the demands of family life and daily life in the big city without feeling much stress.
C. Stress is bad. True.
Stress is bad for the body and the brain. The so-called stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol – characterized as the fight-or-flight response – can wreak havoc if they're deployed too often, as is the case with chronic stress. The negative impact of stress on the body is well known: in the short term, an elevated heart rate, elevated blood pressure, rapid breathing, gastrointestinal discomfort; long-term effects can include increased risk of heart disease, heart attacks, sleep disturbances, depression and stress may contribute to degenerative diseases. Less well-known are the effects on brain function. A Canadian study in 2005 showed that increased stress hormones lead to memory impairment in the elderly and learning difficulties in young adults.
D. Stress is good. True
According to Selye, normal and even pleasant activities – a game of tennis or a passionate kiss – can cause stress without causing damage. He even coined the word "eustress" for the beneficial stress brought about by exhilarating events or situations.
E. Stress is unavoidable. True.
Stress is a condition of life, explained Selye, and cannot, and should not, be avoided. Every one of us is always under some degree of stress, even when we're asleep. Even our dreams can cause stress. Stress can be avoided only by dying.
F. Stress can be beaten. True.
The key to beating stress is managing it, so it doesn't negatively affect the body or mind. Stress management can include off-loading some demands and pressures (and people who are toxic); prioritizing, organizing and simplifying; better nutrition, better sleep, better communication and better exercising; good reading, good music, good company, good deeds; a cup of tea, a glass of wine, a laugh, a hug, a little humour and a lot of gratitude.
Toronto Star
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