Self-Management vs. Stress Management by Joan Burge

The past several weeks have been very stressful for all of us and it’s not over yet. Over the years, I’ve learned stress management is really about self-management. We manage by understanding what stress might look like and how we respond to it so we can then manage our thinking, actions, and attitudes. Sometimes you don’t even realize you are under stress. Maybe you feel things are going along fine but are just a little hectic. You may deny to others that you are stressed. You may even believe that you are managing all the chaos in your personal and professional life well. If you are experiencing any of the items listed below and do not normally experience them, it could be an indication that you are under stress but don’t realize it or don’t want to admit it. Emotional: Irritability Depression Withdrawal Emotional outbursts Overpowering urge to cry, run or retreat Feelings of anxiety that appear for no reason Physical: Fatigue Restlessness Dryness of throat Cold hands and feet Sudden change in appetite Frequent heartburn and indigestion Mental: Poor judgment Unable to concentrate on tasks Illogical thinking Extreme day dreaming More cautious than usual Tendency to make more mistakes than usual Behavioral: Insomnia Accident prone Impulsive behavior Overeating or loss of appetite Increased illness Easily startled by small sounds There is a great deal of information on stress and self-management. Here are a few ideas to help you. Recognize that you are stressed. List your large and small stressors. It isn’t always one big thing that happens that can stress you; it could be many little things that add up. Identify your feelings. Do you feel hurt? Sad? Angry? Frustrated? Don’t run from your feelings. It’s ok. Recognize your symptoms of stress. If you know the symptoms that tend to show up for you when you are stressed, you can be proactive in managing the stress. For example for me, my upper shoulders get achy; they tighten up big time. When I recognize this symptom, I know I have too much going on or there is too much on my plate. So I proactively cut back on things. I get a massage to release the tension in my shoulders. I create quiet time and space for myself. Question your thoughts - are they facts or assumptions? Determine your options. Decide on an action plan. Move forward. If all else fails, you can: Sing Dance Scream Cook Eat candy bars Squeeze a koosh ball Re-arrange the furniture Kick a wastepaper basket Exercise Wishing you a good week. Stay safe and healthy.