Stress affects each of us everyday to varying degrees.  The important issue is not related to the fact that we all have stress in our lives.  It is our ability to deal with stress that determines, or at least contributes, to someone’s current state of health.  Therefore, it is useful to know what we can do that will allow us to manage the stress in our lives as effectively as possible.

How our experiences affect us is related to our overall state of health which includes mental, emotional, physical and spiritual functioning.  Whatever compromises any of these areas creates an extra challenge to our ability to manage stress effectively.  If any of these areas are overly stressed then that area is the “weakest link” and is the most likely area to be adversely effected.  This, in turn, will put extra stress on the other areas and result in additional difficulties over time.

Consider an individual who is experiencing stress related to work and finances.  Over time his/her mental and emotional state will be affected.  If this person resorts to smoking cigarettes, using drugs or alcohol to manage the stress physical health as well as other areas of functioning will be influenced.  In a sense, this person will have resorted to indirect and inefficient ways of dealing with the existing stressors that will eventually result in additional problems.

Consider someone else who is experiencing the same scenario I just described.  However, this person eats healthy, exercises, takes time to relax and has some spiritual practice (e.g., attends religious services, prays, meditates, does volunteer work, etc.).  This way of life provides a foundation of strength and health that will help minimize the negative effects of stress over time.  Therefore, it is important for each of us to identify our “weakest links” and to develop a strategy for managing our stress that takes our individual values and strengths into account.

I welcome your questions and comments.