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What are some tough times which cause stress?

1. The threat of an impending natural disaster (hurricane, flood, drought etc)2. The realities of a natural or human disaster after it has struck
3. The news of the instability of our National Economy and its fallout on the worksite:
      a. Threatened cutbacks
      b. Fear of salary reductions
      c. Realization of the reduction in benefit packages
      d. Impact of increased workload due to reduction of workforces
4. Feelings of vulnerability due to the lack of clarity as to what the outcomes will be for major issues facing us in the worksite, community, state, nation and world
5. Sensing that change is in the air and fear of what this change will require in me
6. Fear of taking risks needed to cope with the changing circumstances in our lives
7. Fear that we will be unable to cope with changed circumstances in an adequate manner

What are the three phases of the Stress Response?

There are three phases of human response to Stress:

·        Phase 1 Alarm phase: When an unusual (or stressful) event occurs, the output of energy drops for a short period as the event is registered in the person's mind.

·        Phase 2 Adaptation phase: Next, the output of energy increases above the normal level; arousal is heightened as the person seeks to deal with the situation. Adaptation responses available to humans include physically running away, fighting, freezing (self immobilization), suppression emotion, or learning.

·        Phase 3 Exhaustion phase: Finally the person's available energy is expended and his capacity to function effectively is reduced.

What are some strategies to take to lessen the impact of stress?

1. Using daily a relaxation program to help us train ourselves to relax our bodies when we are confronted with the stressors during the various phases of the stress cycle: See Relaxation Training: http://www.coping.org/growth/stress.htm#training
2. Using deep breaths to gain enough oxygen to our brains to help relax and maintain our stability. See Deep Breathing: http://www.coping.org/growth/stress.htm#breathing
3. Maintaining a good exercise program which we engage in daily
4. Not using alcohol, drugs, or smoking to medicate the stress
5. Maintaining good balanced diet with reduced carbohydrate and refined sugar levels
6. Talking things out with our: family members, friends, coworkers, supervisors, bosses, community leaders etc
7. Using our creativity to record rational steps to take in handling the realities of the stressor which we are facing so that we can have a rational, logical, and stable way of coping with the fears, risks, and unknown involved in these stressors
8. Maintaining a good sense of humor and making accessible to each other computer based, video, DVD, and CD, MP3, comic relief outlets which can be shared with one another in the midst of the stressful process
9. Getting rational about our need to control everything in our lives and reframing what are the uncontrollables and unchangeables in our lives so that we do not succumb to the stressors of the tough times ahead
10. Maintaining a spiritual focus which allows us to accept that the words of the Serenity Prayer:   

To accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can

And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardships as a pathway to peace

Taking, as our great leaders have done, this sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it,

Trusting that You will make all things right

If I surrender to Your will.

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with You forever

In the next.

Amen