STRESSBUSTERS“A Release Valve: Dealing With Stress”

By:Dawnita S. Nilles

Family Resource Coordinator, Serving Families in Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina & Walsh Counties

Freud had an interesting thing to say about pain and suffering in life.

He said, “Avoid it.”

Stress, What Is It?Any action or situation that places special

physical or psychological demands on a person.

Involuntary, non-specific production of excess energy in the body in order to meet the demands of daily living.

Body’s reaction to demands placed on it.

Stress AccumulationAccumulated demands or changes over a

period of time which tax the ability of the family or individual to maintain balance and threatens or does deplete the energy for coping.

BurnoutExhaustion from stress

overload.

What We Know About Stress...

It is pressure from the outside.It can lead to personal growth.

Stress is INEVITABLE, SURMOUNTABLE, and TEMPORARY.

To Relieve STRESS, I’m not saying you shouldgo aroundCOMPLAINING and SNAPPING at people….…. I just know what works for me.

Kinds Of Stress

Eustress- positive events in your life.

Distress- negative events in your life.

Societal Factors and ChangesNo More Traditional

Homes Increased MobilityCommunication StylesMove Toward More

Organized ActivitiesPolyphasic Society

“Busy is Better” Mentality

Changes in Family Structure.

Self Esteem Movement and the “Feel Good Syndrome”

Stress PromotersPoor Communication

SkillsLack of Shared

Responsibility at Home.Loss Illness/Injury Job ChangesFamily Changes

Change in LifestyleMoney Issues Insufficient Family

Play TimeGuiltRetirementOverscheduled

Calendars

Symptoms of StressPhysiologic SymptomsEmotional SymptomsIntellectual Symptoms

Danger Zone SignalsYou seem to run out of sympathy and

empathy for other people.You find that you cannot speak nicely

to strangers.You feel the people closest to you take

more than they give.

Ideas For Managing Stress Increase Self

AwarenessLaughDecrease PerfectionismThink PositiveAttend to Your

Priorities Improve

Communication

Develop Positive Patterns of Conflict Resolution.

Get Control of Your Time

Personal CareBuild a Support

Network

When life gets too hectic, I’ve always found that a nice, hot bath can solve most problems.

I’ve been in here since

last Thursday.