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| Psychology News |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Katie Crabtree Thomas - 800-783-1983
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DON’T LET STRESS GET THE BEST OF YOU
Stress.
At times, it can be the ugliest word in the English language, because it’s caused by any life change, such as getting married, having a baby, losing a job, moving to a new house or falling ill.
And it happens to all of us because of the constant change in our lives.
“Stress is caused because of these overwhelming feelings of
lack of control over our environment and an inability to change things,” said
Dr. Kathleen Ashton, a psychologist in Cleveland and chair of the Ohio
Psychological Association (OPA) Public Education Campaign Committee. “It’s a
necessary part of life. The only constant thing is change and with that, comes
stress. Without stress, we would get bored, so it has good and bad sides.”
When stress hits, it can cause physical and emotional problems including back
pain, depression, fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, upset stomach and
weight loss or gain, among others.
How can you not let stress get the best of you?
“First, you need to recognize that there are positive and negative ways to relieve stress. The negative habits will actually increase stress in the long run,” said Dr. Ashton. “Some of these include using alcohol and drugs, excessive eating, smoking, inactivity and not sleeping.”
For positive ways to reduce stress, Dr. Ashton recommended the following:
- Lead a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy food and exercise on a daily basis.
- Get enough sleep.
- Incorporate relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga into your routine.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol use.
- Use your social supports; talk to your friends and co-workers about stress and let them help you develop skills to cope.
- Learn to limit your activities and say no instead of over committing yourself.
- Focus on events you have control over, and things you don’t have control over.
- Use your problem solving skills: ask “what can I do about today that will make me feel better?”
“If you find you are having difficulty coping with stress or are experiencing the long-term effects of chronic stress, you may want to contact a psychologist,” said Dr. Ashton. In addition, self-help materials about stress are available through the American Psychological Association’s “For a Healthy Mind and Body, Talk to a Psychologist” campaign at www.apahelpcenter.org.
Located in Columbus, Ohio, The Ohio Psychological Association is a membership organization of approximately 1,600 Ohio psychologists. Its mission is to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare. For more information or for a psychologist referral, visit www.ohpsych.org.