May 11
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How to Deal With Stress
“It’s not the stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it” – Hans Selye
Everyone faces stress at one time or another. It’s part of life. We all tend to think that stress is bad but it doesn’t have to be. Stress is anything that activates the body’s stress mechanism, so that could mean things that bring us joy can be just as stressful. Getting married, starting a new job, moving to a new town, can all be great things to look forward to yet, they can create a great amount of stress. Learning to handle ALL stress, regardless of the cause is extremely important because of the toll it can take on us.
We are emotional, physical, social and spiritual beings, and no part of us escapes the effects of stress as it attacks our body. Stress can take on incredible toll on our physical bodies.
“Worry and stress affects the circulation, the heart, the glands and the whole nervous system and profoundly affects heart action.” – Charles W. Mayo M.D.
“If your teeth are clenched and your fists are clenched, your lifespan is probably clenched.” – Adabella Radici
Stress can wreak havoc on our behaviors, as it is not uncommon to find stressed people struggling to concentrate, begin to lose their memory, develop compulsive behavior, experience restlessness, fidgetiness, lack of motivation and irritability.
Emotions can also pay a price as fear of dying may develop. That along with worry, tearfulness, nervousness, morbid self-awareness, increased guilt or shame, fear of “going crazy”, panic feelings and/or fear of impending doom can makes stress a dangerous foe.
If stress is inevitable and the consequences of living with it for any length of time can be severe, how does one deal with stress so as to avoid a miserable existence or an early death?
There are some practical things one can do to begin to reduce the negative effects of stress and to learn how to deal with stress.
Good Sleep: “The truth is that we need all the sleep we can get if we are going to avoid stress disease. Sleep is an important antidote for the stress of everyday living.” Dr. Archibald D. Hart Good sleep does not come from sleeping pills, which only creates havoc in the body and interferes with the body’s ability to fall asleep naturally. If you can’t sleep, it is better to just lie down, immobilize your body and relax your mind and body as much as possible. Even doing this will allow the brain to replenish itself as you choose to think on beautiful, hopeful things It will also be healing to your body and reverse the damage caused by the stress of the day.
Learn to Relax: Unbelievably, there are people, and maybe you are one of them who have no idea how to relax. However, if one is serious about countering the negative effects of stress on their minds and bodies, one MUST learn to relax.
“Of all the techniques available for counteracting stress and reducing the symptoms of distress, deliberate relaxation represents the most well-deserved and thoroughly researched. It is safe, effective and it doesn’t cost anything. Not only is it the cheapest healing force we know of, it is also probably the most effective. Believe me, relaxation is a powerful healing tool.” Dr. Archibald D. Hart
Relaxation can greatly improve hypertension, tension headaches and insomnia, among other stress-related disorders. We cannot under estimate the power of relaxation to promote healing and restoration to the body. (For specific relaxation exercises you can check out the book “Adrenaline and Stress” by Dr. Archibald D. Hart)
Laughter: Laughter heals many things, including anger. It also helps to restore perspective on life and creates cheerfulness in others. Proverbs 17:22 has been proven scientifically over and over again “A cheerful heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit makes one sick.” There is a great amount of evidence to suggest that 2 of the greatest stimulants to our immune system are humor and happiness. Interestingly enough, laughter is also good for high cholesterol, ulcers and headaches. So start laughing!
As mentioned earlier, we are not just physical and emotional beings, but spiritual beings as well. It is the strength of our spiritual life that will best determine how we handle and respond to the stresses of life. A relationship with God, through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ allows us to live by a power that is not our own. As Believers in Christ, we are given the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit and the continual presence of God, which is the best antidote for stress there is.
Matthew 6:25 tells us that we are not to worry about our life – what we will eat or what we will drink, nor our body as to what we will put on.
Why? Because God, the source of everything we need, promises to provide and care for us as we seek Him first and make Him a priority in our lives.
Philippians 4:6 says “Don’t worry about anything but in everything by prayer and supplications with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
When you are overwhelmed with life and it seems to be more than you can bear, you have a choice to make. You can struggle through as best you can with hopes you’ll come out ok. Or you can take God up on His offer to come to Him with all your worries and cares, acknowledging with a thankful heart that He alone is able to make a way for you through the stresses and burdens of life.
Living the Christian life does not mean sunshine and roses all the time but it does mean we have all the resources we need from God to deal with the stresses in life that come our way. Reciting His promises of how He promises to protect, provide, care for, strengthen and do for us “exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think” will feed our soul and fortify our mind so that we don’t succumb to the otherwise inevitable consequences of stress.
Discover additional information on How to Deal with Stress and Anxiety
