The four fundamental stress management principles we subscribe to are plain old health management principles. This may be why so many people claim to be stressed out and having health problems due to stress (41%), since very few practice these skills.
Exercise, proper diet/nutrition, relaxation, and cognitive change (right thinking) are the core stress management principles we coach and they are the same for healthy living and preventative maintenance. Stress management may emphasize the mind/body areas more since the mind controls all thoughts and feelings, but the approach is the same.
So, if you can be healthier and reduce your stress by applying this principles, why don't more people do them? We think people are just basically lazy and our entire western economy is based on developing products that make your life easier. Just take a pill or tune out. Divert your thinking and it will go away. Unfortunately, this will work in the short term, but without fail, will bring disaster to those that disregard this advice.
Think about people you know who all of sudden have discovered walking or proper diet/nutrition after their arteries were clogged or their heart stopped. They are now converts, but before, they could have cared less. But, even then, study after study shows that people who have had open heart surgery will not stop eating fatty foods. I know one that was close to me-my father. After his surgery, he continued to go to Hardee's to eat the sausage and egg biscuit, even knowing the exact calorie/fat content!
Behavior change is hard after a "wake up" call, but even harder when you have to have self motivation to begin a stress/health program.
Don't wait until the system stops or backs up on you. Get moving in the right direction because you will feel better, look better, and your system will run better and longer if you do. If you don't, then it is only a matter of time until you will get out your wallet and your crying towel with "what if" scenarios.
Mosey on down to http://www.stressless.com/ to see us.
2 comments:
Hi
I read your article with interest.
You are talking about coping. It is my clinical experience that coping styles determine jut how well you cope.
Some people do this worse than others.
It is not just the way that they act. It is the way that they think and feel.
This means they enjoy a poor quality of life.
It often, if not invariably will mean that they are prone to Anxiety or Depression.
As a Psychiatrist for 38 years I decided that I wanted to do something to help.
So I built, what I consider to be, a comprehensive answer. The myRay site is free Online Self-Help.
As I say, myRay is free so why not take a peek and see if myRay can help you
With kindest regards
Dr. Michael Benjamin
As a stress coach and author, I wholeheartedly agree with most of the points made here.
However, I don't think it is laziness that prevents people from learning proper techniques to help them cope with stressful situations. Last year my company ACQYR, did a survey and one of the surprising results was that while everyone seemed to know what they should be doing to deal with stress (breathing techniques, time management, improved communication skills, etc.) 4 out of 5 participants still said they did not have the skills or training to deal with workplace stress. There was definitely a "knowing-doing gap."
As stress-related illnesses continue to climb, more and more schools and corporations will need to implement stress training classes.
Great blog - thanks for the comprehensive info.
Ronnie Nijmeh
Author of Stress Busters
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