Stress Relief 101 You rub your forehead, trying to ease the pressure. It feels as if ants are coursing through your veins as you scurry from one task to another, beginning but not completing any of them. Focus, focus--find a place to start, demands the voice inside your head. You lie down to rest with your mind running full throttle. Sleep is broken, you're startled to wakefulness by thoughts of some task left undone, some demanding worry. What’s the problem? More than likely you’re stressed. You need R.E.L.I.E.F, and quickly. You’ll go mad if it doesn’t come. The identification with Job is certain: "The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me." (30:27)
Stress is experienced by each of us. It can have positive results when one is motivated to continue forward with a task, but it is harmful when it creates debilitating depression, anxiety, or other negative emotional states. One’s physical health deteriorates with continual stress.
Stress is defined in Webster’s as “a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part.” The dictionary also says that stress is a “constraining force.’’ Note that the constraining force can be internal or external. One sometimes, responds stressfully to the perceived expectations of others. Those with low self-esteem are often influenced by the demands and desires of individuals more assertive than themselves. If the person’s own needs go unmet, frustration occurs. It can be postulated that the inability to establish healthy boundaries leads to stress.
Quite often stress is experienced when one has unrealistic expectations of others, such as , when one assumes that others see the world exactly as they do, then become frustrated when discovering that others often do not think, behave, or react in the “correct” way. Conversely, one can levy unrealistic expectations on oneself. Can you say
Superwoman Complex?
Stress and the solutions to stress are multifaceted.
How does the Bible address stress? Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30).
From a counselor’s view, the following is suggested for immediate relief: Simply Stop, Assess, Decide, and Act. Stop to catch up with yourself; you’re moving too fast. Assess what is valuable and reflects your goals and principles; even good things may not be good for you at this juncture. Make a decision based on your goals and vision; this may demand courage and will definitely demand commitment. Act, and act with consistency.
There is much more to explore about stress and how to relieve it, but for now, suffice it to say that you have a starting place. I hope that each of you will explore the causes of stress and endeavor to be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you can live a healthy and wholesome life, accomplishing all that God has designed for you to do and be.
Elizabeth G. Bridges, LPC
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One internet minister, expresses the following regarding stress:
The first thing we must do to be free from our stress and our worry is to come unto Jesus.
Without Him, our life has no real
purpose or depth. We simply run
from one activity to another,
seeking to fill our ives with
purpose, peace, and happiness.
"All man's efforts are for his
mouth, yet his appetite is never
satisfied."
View my stress relief video at http:www.youtube.com/libbou
