Coping with Stress

To live on planet Earth is to experience stress. That's both good news and bad news. Without stress, adaptive behavior wouldn't be encouraged as situations change-and situations always change. Indeed, Hans Selye spoke of what he called eustress, stress that motivates us to get busy with absorbing and stimulating work that can be useful to one and all. On the other hand, stress without adaptive responses simply wears us out and can even kill us.

When we deal with stressors, there are two basic reaction modes. Problem-focused coping centers on acting to neutralize or manage the threat. Emotion-focused coping involves managing our emotional response to the perceived threat. In reality, we do a little of both of these things.

Things go better when we feel we can cope with stressors, whatever they may be. By contrast, deciding that we have no control over a stressful situation can lead us down paths of hopelessness and fatalistic apathy. That's a path people may take to the extent that they adopt what psychologists call learned helplessness. For example, people may make nonproductive internal attributions to account for setbacks. A self-applied internal attribution signifies that frustrations are a direct result of one's inherent (built-in) deficiencies.

People may teach themselves that since they failed once, they'll fail again because they're stupid, incompetent, or just "no good."

A key part of psychological reaction to stress is the resilience of a person Resilience refers to the ability of a person to with- stand, overcome and thrive after profound adversity.

Another important factor in coping with stress is social support. Hard times are easier to cope with when there are shoulders to cry on. A hug from a friend can make a difference. My problems can fall into a healthier perspective as I enter into social networks with people who are trying to bail out the same leaky boat.

People benefit from understanding what stress is and how to cope with it. They benefit from knowing how to live in ways that promote good health. Our work lives, family lives, and recreational lives are under control when we understand

how to manage stress. The last part of this section offers you some excellent tips on effective coping strategies. Here's a "teaser" preview. Think about what each tip tells you in terms of your life experience.

Turn a threat into a challenge. U.S. Army combat engineers have an adage: "The possible we get done immediately; the impossible takes a little longer."

Look for the silver lining. Even dire situations can be viewed from different perspectives. Members of the
anti-Nazi resistance in World War II had a saying: "What doesn't kill you outright only makes you stronger."

Change your goals. When you've proved to yourself that you aren't likely to write the great American novel any time soon, plan a career in journalism.

Take physical action. It always helps to do something. Run Fido around the block, pump some iron, clean up the kitchen.

Prepare for stress before it happens. If you know the corporate bigwigs will be descending to inspect your department, make a plan, help get department personnel on the same page, and convince Steve that casual Friday attire won't cut it.Reference

Psychology_and_your_Life_Ch04.pdf

Psychology_and_your_Life_Ch121.pdf