Tuesday, July 09, 2013
Stress relief tips in our ‘Anxiety Society’
Is there anyone these days who can say these are not
stressful times? In fact, when we
were looking for a catchy title for a health education program, we named it “Anxiety
Society.”
And for good
reason. Approximately 18% — or 40 million Americans — suffer from anxiety
disorders, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
We all experience some degree of stress on a daily basis. According
to The New York Times Health Guide, stress generates from situations or
thoughts that make you feel frustrated, angry, or anxious. Anxiety centers on
feeling apprehension or fear.
Stress in low doses is normal, and even beneficial, as it motivates you, and makes you more productive.
Stress in low doses is normal, and even beneficial, as it motivates you, and makes you more productive.
My colleague Eric Sandberg, PhD, of the Backus Center for
Mental Health, has given numerous presentations on stress and anxiety. During
the “Anxiety Society” presentation, he explained that stress is external, and
anxiety is internal.
That’s an
interesting way of looking at it.
The only thing we can control is our response to the inevitable stresses
of life. There are degrees of
anxiety. In cases of severe
anxiety, when a person is overwhelmed with deep panic and fright, professional
medical help should be sought immediately.
The mild stress that we encounter daily can be managed with
some easy techniques, according to Dr. Sandberg. He offers some self-help
stress busters:
• Imagine warming your hands by a fire on a cold night
• Be nice to someone
• Recognize one of your strengths
• Make plans for a great future
• Read, hear, make a joke
• Pet a pet
• Talk to a friend
• Take a walk
• Recreation
And my personal favorite:
• Eat healthy, tasty food
My colleague Lisa says when she is stressed, “I go to my happy place.” When I asked her to explain, she said, “I imagine myself at the beach, or playing with my daughters in the back yard, or relaxing in our favorite vacation spot in Maine.”
All great ideas for relieving stress in these tough times.
Alice Facente is a community education nurse for the Backus
Health System. To comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy
Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Facente or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org.
# posted by ----------------- @ 3:39 PM 
