Medical Edge Newspaper Column

Managing Stress for Better Health

January 7, 2008
Readers:
When stress never seems to go away, your health can suffer. The stress response — also known as the fight-or-flight response — has been important for human survival. But today's stressors, such as jobs, relationships or finances, tend to be prolonged. The result can be a fight-or-flight response that runs far too long and can cause ill health effects such as stomach pain, anxiety, irritability, insomnia and depression.

To reduce the negative effects of stress:

• Identify the causes. Are the stressors external, such as job difficulties or family problems, or internal, such as perfectionist tendencies?
• Concentrate on the stressors you can change. For example, a diagnosis of diabetes can't be changed, but a patient can change how she manages the condition.
• Limit needless daily stressors. Learn to say no to commitments you're not up to.
• Change the pace. Break your routine. Take time each day to relax. Take a mini-vacation from your routine.
• Recognize signs of stress. Some people experience neck or back pain when they are stressed. Others become more forgetful. Learn the signs so you can interrupt the cycle.

For stressors beyond your control, it may help to try to accept them. Avoid letting a stressful situation and thoughts about it become all consuming.

— Mayo Clinic Health Letter