Can you imagine a stress-free life? What will provide us with the appropriate energy and sharpen our senses to help us power through dangerous situations, find solutions to complex situations and meet deadlines. This poison called stress may not be bad after all, it’s when it persists over long periods that alarm bells go off.

Does STRESS show any favouritism? Though it spares no one including children, certain professions get more than their fair share but in the same way that a parent with one child may experience more stress than one with five children, so also can one who is not in a traditionally stressful job experience workplace stress. The stress experienced by an unemployed person may be devastating also and your guess is as good as mine.
People who have inadequate social support, those who are poorly nourished, those who do not get enough sleep and those who are physically unwell have a reduced capacity to handle pressures and stresses of everyday life.

Spend a few minutes to answer these questions and it may help you realize your level of stress (not scoring this)

1. Do you feel you can’t catch your breath lately?
2. Any major changes in your life?
3. Do you feel tired and sleep poorly?
4. If you feel overwhelmed, would you drink alcohol and/or eat unhealthy food?

5. Do you throw a fit when you are upset?
6. Do you have someone to listen to you when you have challenges?
7. Have you done something “just for yourself lately?”
8. Do you exercise often?

COPING WITH STRESS

I doubt if anyone has all the answers to managing stress all the time. All said and done, exercise and laughter will be competing for the top spot in the management of stress.

Lifestyle Changes
1. Exercise
a. This is a great way to bust stress. Exercise has been proven to have a beneficial effect on our physical and mental state.
2. Laugh often
a. People who learn to laugh even at themselves cope better with pressure
3. Time management
a. Make sure you have personal time each day to organize your life. Learn to delegate and learn to prioritize. As David Allen put it “much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they have started.”
4. Dietary modifications
a. Cut down on alcohol and drugs. If possible avoid them altogether.
b. Cut back on your consumption of coffee and other caffeinated drinks
c. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water. Ensure your meals are balanced
5. Prayer
a. Praying helps us cope because we accept that there is a being superior to us who can solve our problems. The Holy Bible tells us “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Adopting Coping Skills

1. Assertiveness
a. Learn to say NO. If you are not in a position to add extra load to your schedule say it upfront.
2. Talk
a. Talk to people you can trust. Express your worries and thoughts. Do not wait till you are overburdened and can no longer cope
3. Breathing
a. Learn to breathe well and do it often. Take deep breaths through your nostrils and exhale through pursed lips.
4. Relaxation techniques
a. Massage, meditation, yoga, aromatherapy and reflexology are a few of the techniques that have been helpful to many people
Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used to. It is a normal response of the body to situations that are perceived as “dangerous”. Everyone suffers from stress at some point of time in their life. When it occurs repeatedly, it affects health both mentally and physically.

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Moms’ Health Club
(dressel@healthclubsgh.com)


*Dr Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy and fitness nutrition.
Thought for the week – “Brain cells create ideas. Stress kills brain cells. Stress is not a good idea.” –F. Saunders.

References:
1. Questions modified from webmd.com