Subscribe to It Has Nothing to Do with Age by Email Follow Tusk95664 on Twitter It Has Nothing to Do with Age: Managing and Coping with Stress
It Has Nothing To Do With Age provides self-help principles. The inspirational stories give concrete illustrations of overcoming many of life's challenges. Difficulties pertaining to depression, grief, divorce, and death are presented and worked through by the participants. Physical impairments, injuries, overcoming issues with weight, alcohol, and nicotine are also dealt with and resolved by the athletes.

This book provides a model on how to overcome some of the difficulties that confront all of us . Further, this read sheds a beacon of light on preventive measures for good physical and mental health. Research demonstrates that exercise is an important component in treating such ailments and debilitating illness such as depression, stroke, heart disease, brain or cognitive malfunction,and Alzheimer's disease.

I suggest that proper exercise can be used as a preventive measure for psychological, cognitive, and physical health as well. Follow my prescription and lead a better, more fulfilling, and healthier life.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Managing and Coping with Stress

Previous blogs included both an internal and external stress index.  Today’s blog has to do with symptoms or signals of stress and the possible effects of chronic stress.   As we know, it seems impossible to live in a stress-free environment. Competing in the Way Too Cool 50 K. is an example.   Do a self-evaluation and see if any of the following pertain to you: 1. Headaches 2.  Intestinal problems-diarrhea or constipation 3.  Muscle tension, back pain and other types of pain; clenched teeth 4.  Restlessness, irritability, frustration, moodiness, anger 5.  Difficulty making decisions, forgetfulness   6.  Eating problems-loss of appetite 7.  Sleeping problems-trouble falling asleep, waking up early, being unable to fall sleep again; over sleeping, sleeping too much; disturbing dreams 8.  Stomach distress, ulcers, knot or butterflies in stomach 9.  High blood pressure   10.  Chronic fatigue 11.  Decreased zest for life, worry, fear, depression, anxiety 12.  Increased use of alcohol, cigarettes or drugs 13.  Disease flares.
Hopefully, your self-evaluation turned out positive, and you are not experiencing any of the above difficulties.  However, if you are experiencing issues with stress the following might be helpful in managing your stress: 1. Make up your own stress diary to identify what causes you stress.  Include the following: the date, cause of stress, time or occurrence, physical symptoms, emotional symptoms    2.  Change what you can to reduce your stress by: a. Set goals-develop a plan for achieving goals, one that includes hobbies and friends and that delegates responsibilities -be flexible about the time your goal will take to achieve b. list priorities-what needs to be done immediately?   What can be done later?   What can be eliminated?  C.  Take time to do things you enjoy d.  Acknowledge major life events as stress sources-even positive events can be stressful e.  Learn to say no, and lose the guilt 3.  Think win/win when resolving conflicts; seek solutions that will benefit both sides 4.  Manage   or accept what you cannot change 5.  Think positively 6.  Develop new support systems 7.  Adapt a lifestyle that reduces stress.
These ideas were presented by the Institute for Natural Resources.  If you are having difficulty managing the stress in your life, see what you can do on your own.  If that does not work, consider other options, like a professional.
Looking out my window, the rain continues to pour.  Translated, this means that the trails are wet and sloppy (stress).  As a result, I am going to wear rain resistant clothing.  I know that running for me is one way that I reduce the “overall” stress in my life. I am going to put up with the wet and cold. Giving in is easy, but like the Nike commercial” just do it.”

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