|
|
| We Have Met the Enemy - Part 1 |
| By Caterina Spinaris |
| Published: 03/04/2019 |
It is estimated that 60-80% of visits to primary care physicians include a stress-related component [1]. That is, 60-80% of common illnesses may be due to what we loosely call “stress.” It seems that even though we understand more than ever before the mechanisms through which “stress” can affect us, we are not doing as good of a job managing it and countering its long-term poisonous effects. Some of us even scoff at the idea that “stress” can affect us negatively. We may instead proclaim that “stress” helps us focus, energizes us, and keeps us vigilant and on our toes. And I’ve heard corrections staff chuckle and say, “I don’t HAVE stress! I GIVE stress!” And yet, the verdict is in about the outcomes of exposure to chronic and/or extreme “stress.” These range from cardiovascular disease to inflammation to gastrointestinal problems to brain damage, and more. In reality, our whole body is affected by “stress”—from the surface of our skin to our innermost core. Therefore, it behooves us to try to learn to identify the entry points of “stress” in our lives, and how we can reduce them or avoid them altogether, when possible. When we start doing that, we may discover that some of the sources of our “stress” are easy to point out, but others push our buttons at levels below our awareness. To identify these we have to do some additional sleuth work, in order to be able to connect the dots and uncover them. Some of the entry points of stress in our lives may be external, as in the case of a family member’s illness or a challenging boss. And some may be internal, as in the case of an excessive tendency to worry, getting angry easily, or being pessimistic. (My guess is that some of us may not have thought that negative moods are in fact stressful to our bodies.) And it is equally wise for us to learn how to manage, how to regulate our responses to “stress,” so we can stay cool instead of becoming red hot when “stress” comes knocking on our door. In fact, since we cannot control many of life’s events, our habitual way of responding to challenges becomes a critical issue. Such habitual responses are in essence “automated” reactions, like a program that runs on its own once it’s started. We want that program to run to our benefit, to help us preserve our health, our sanity, and our overall well-being—not to make us sick. In the next two issues of the Correctional Oasis, I plan to share more on dealing with external and internal sources of “stress,” and on consciously modulating our reactions to “stress.” In closing, I’d like to share this quote from Dr. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD, the director of the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at the Ohio State University College of Medicine: “Stress is a little like an avalanche. It starts at the top of the mountain when something breaks off. Barreling down the mountain, it not only gains momentum, it also gains mass as it keeps destroying things in its path that become part of it, a monster feeding on itself …. So the broad solution is better recognition of the early signals. That should prompt us to take stock and think about how to take care of ourselves” [2]. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4286362/ [2] https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/united-states-of-stress/ This article as been reprinted with permission from the March 2019 Issue of Correctional Oasis, a monthly e-publication of "Desert Waters Correctional Outreach". Editor's note: Caterina Spinaris is the Executive Director at Desert Waters Correctional Outreach and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Colorado. She continues to contribute to the field of corrections staff well-being individually and organizationally, in particularly regarding issues of traumatic stress due to exposure to violence, injury, death on the job, and also issues of organizational climate improvement. Visit the Caterina Spinaris page Other articles by Spinaris: |
Comments:
Login to let us know what you think
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Hamilton loves his family of five and badminton. His favorite sports ball team is the McGregor Dodgeballers. He has worked as a foreman on a chain gang, and later in life he was an architect of skyscrapers and tunnels. He was forced to give up his career because he was terrible at math. Hamilton has a keen attention to detail. He enjoyed watching bowling on TV and spent most every weekend on the couch falling asleep. He was a demon at croquet. He also enjoyed war movies and baking shows. Hamilton Lindley is constantly helping others less fortunate and lending a helping hand for relatives and friends in need of encouraging words. He coaches different sports and provided guidance for people who needed it, and a few who didn’t want it.
If you want to learn more about this topic, I suggest that you check out the new Hamilton Lindley blog article about it where he goes in depth on it.
Excellent post share this is, learning on healthy food and also The Avenir. The Midwood post is really good and worth the read, much appreciate the share, hoping for more at Hyll On Holland though, thanks again.
I think that the issue there is because of The Hyde and I need to fix it. I will ask if anyone knows about RV Altitude so that I can tell more people about View At Kismis .
on the other hand parc esta is more expensive. Only a few people can afford treasure at tampines.
I think health food can help people absorb Parc Clematis. Yes, the food safety problem is very serious in stirling residences. Millions of people are suffering the theatren of it now.
I recently received Garden Residences from the amazon company. I was waiting for Florence Residences to Read and write the idea.
sasvWw
These are distinctive divisions which are working for understudies and deal with their records. I trust aa-mediastudies.net comprehend that these surveys are useful for those individuals who need to join.
Interesting, but everyone has their own service, I heard a lot of opinions, but some services are fraudsters, I used it many times https://www.essay-company.com/essay-writer , I am very pleased with everything quickly and I recommend qualitatively, a large base of high-quality specialists who perform essays.
Keep up the good work , I read few posts on this web site and I conceive that your blog is very interesting and has sets of fantastic information. Travel
This blog demonstrates the better approaches for getting instruction. As indicated by my perspective to get training in present day way is constantly helpful and useful. I am thinking to begin my task of proessayreviews.com with new and present day way. By utilizing new strategies and techniques we can do consummate work.