by Carolyn Dickman
A lecturer was giving a presentation on stress management. He raised a glass of water and asked the audience, “How heavy do you think this glass of water is?” The guesses were wide and varied.How Long You Hold the Weight
His response, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it a few minutes, it is OK. If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance. It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”Perspectives on Stress and Dis-tress
That’s the way it is with stress too; the longer we hold it – the heavier it becomes – the more damage it can do. Stress is and always will be a part of our lives. Stress is neither good nor bad until we quantify it. A new baby is usually considered good stress, but getting up ten times a night for three months most probably would be defined as bad stress.“Dis-stress” is difficult to define because it is different things to different people. Two people could go through the same stressful situation, but one could define the circumstance as good stress and the other may think of it as “dis-stress.” Your perception defines the kind of stress you experience. If we accept that, then we must accept that we may not be able to change a situation, but we can change our perception and manage stress more effectively. The Midwest Center's Attacking Anxiety & Depression Program exists to help people develop a plan to help manage their stress effectively.
The Effects of Poor Stress Management
Some stress comes from external causes, things we have no control over. Then there is the stress that is internally generated. People that manage stress well will hold it, make choices and then put the stress down so they can move on. Those who have not learned good stress management skills carry the stress everywhere and it builds up over time. They then begin to deal with life with that stress weighing them down with anxiety. This can go on only until there is no stamina left in the holder and the result can be disastrous to our mind, body and spirit.Recovering from Anxiety Disorders
I lived under the weight of agoraphobia (fearful to leave my home), depression, panic, and depending on alcohol to get through the day. I don’t want to focus on those years of depression and anxiety. Those that have been there know the torture of those conditions, and those that do not would not understand; nor do I wish them to. I would rather draw you to the positive aspects of my NOW where I know how to manage stress positively. The Attacking Anxiety & Depression Program can help you find your NOW where your stress is managed and the effect it has on your life minimized.I now live in precious, present moments with inner peace and gratitude that I know what it is to be alive and fully participating in life without excessive worry, stress, and anxiety.
Recovering from anxiety disorders is quite a journey. Along the way I learned many stress management tools that I could use to reduce anxiety. The key word is: Manage. We all have and will continue to have stressful life challenges; how we ‘Manage’ them makes all the difference in how much weight we live with.
Under new management,
Carolyn
