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March 10, 2011
Is Stress Dangerous?
 Eighty-four percent of women say the current economic climate is their primary stress factor, according to a recent APA survey. Other factors include job stability, family health problems and housing costs.
All that stress can lead to anger and health issues such as serious narrowing of the heart vessels, suggests the Chopra Center. “Learning to manage your inner tyrant will benefit you, your heart, and the people in your life.”
Here’s how to reduce stress:
Develop a sense of detachment. The Mayo Clinic reports on the benefits of focusing on bigger things: your personal goals and remembering you're part of a greater
whole versus dwelling on the negative. They also suggest nurturing your relationships with others when seeking stress relief.
Early signs of stress can include sleep disorders, low morale, depression, short temper and anxiety. These can affect your job and personal life, says WebMD. Measure your stress levels regularly by taking this survey.
Bonus PINK Link: Job stress? Find out how to feel refreshed, recharged and refocused at work in our online exclusive.
Minute Mentor: Pfizer's Karen Boykin-Towns shares advice on life balance and the importance of forgiving yourself.
By Muriel Vega
"Keeping busy and making optimism a way of
life can restore your faith in yourself." Lucille Ball
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Comments
How to manage change and stress?
I've recently moved countried with my boyfriend and started a new job. I have found the new job an incredibly difficult adjustment after 8 years with my previous company. Im on probation at work and right now not meeting the targets set for me- they are trying to work with me to meet them but I work in the communications industry and the pressure and expectation is high.
At night I frequently have nightmares and night sweats and tend to get up around 4-5 times a night- also due to the fact I have chronic neck pain (have for most of my life so this isnt new). Im just about to turn 30 and am trying to figure out to to cope mentally and whether i need to make different choices in my life.
I did the stress test related to the recent article and im in the 'high stress' bracket. I understand logically I should distance myself from the stress triggers at work or at least not allow them to affect me- but this is easier said than done. I exercise, go to bed early and try to relax - but Im pretty bad at it. My health is now being affected as I feel ill more regularly and my immune system is a bit shot. Is this something young women just have to cope with in modern society, and if so how?
Stress-combating tips
Like most people, I have a veritable laundry list of stressors: work (I'm a writer), health (I'm in my mid-fifties--'nuff said!), family concerns and then those stray occurrences that show up out of the blue.
I have found that making time for at least 30 minutes each day to work out (yoga, walking, weight-training) is a great technique. It burns off the tension and makes me feel like I have accomplished at least one thing on my every-growing To-Do list. (It also keeps me from hitting the candy/carb collection in my house!)
I'm also working hard to create some "down time" (which sounds like a contradiction but it's all about commitment). My goal for 2011 is to do one fun thing a month with one of my friends--a major improvement over last year!
"Change Coach" Nancy Christie
author, The Gifts of Change
www.communityofchange.com