The Anatomy of Stress, Part 1

It’s one thing to treat the symptoms of stress through relaxation, exercise and a healthy diet.  But it’s another to get to the heart of the problem – the “why” behind stress.

A good start is to know your “stress patterns,” claims Martin Shaffer, Ph.D,. in his book, Life After Stress (Plenum Press, N.Y.).  This can be achieved by sensitizing yourself to what triggers your stress response.

Once you’ve experienced stress, try keeping a journal or notebook to record daily accounts of when and where stress appears in your life, he suggests.

Not only will the journal enable you to detect your stress patterns, but it provides the raw material for a personal stress analysis in which you systematically evaluate and interpret the information.

Such analysis can serve as a basis for developing a comprehensive stress management program, Dr. Shaffer maintains.

First you should closely examine your work environment to see whether it poses potential stressors.

For instance, he recommends that you start by focusing on noise levels, air pollution, lighting, overcrowding, negative personal interactions, and adverse work conditions to see what triggers your negative feelings.

Also, determine whether you’re eating regularly and properly, getting enough exercise, and taking enough time to indulge in the activities you enjoy most.

Once you’ve detected problem areas, address ways to reduce or prevent them.  If time pressures unnerve you at the office, try to arrange “to set your own time limits to match your own rhythms so you can flow from task to task and relax while working,” Dr. Shaffer suggests.

When you feel rushed and flustered at work, review your priorities.  This way, you can properly pace yourself so the day progresses in an orderly and efficient way.

(Part 2 will appear next week, Monday, 18 March 2013 – J.P.)