Stress And Your Down Times

The Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Scale is used to quantify stress by using a point system for the different types of stressors in life. Death of a spouse is the most stressful event, ranking 100 on the scale. Divorce is at 73, marital separation at 65, jail 63, death of a close family member 63, personal illness or injury 53. Happy occasions like marriage can also rank high on this scale.

Most of us do not go through life measuring our stress level. However, referring to the scale can be quite instructive. For instance, after consulting the scale, you might decide to delay a major decision such as the purchase of a new home until you’ve successfully battled the stress from your divorce. Or you may decide to wait before taking a new job until you’ve dealt with the stress from your wedding. This self-awareness can enable you to reduce your stress level and to maintain your equilibrium amidst great life struggles.

Therefore, one of the healthiest things you can do is to draw up a list of stress-causing life events and post it in a place where your entire family can see it. That way, you’ll have a constant reminder of just what you’re up against. This can also serve to encourage your family at a time of great heartache. Family members will be able to see that the event is a normal part of life-one that many other families face. As a result, they’ll be able to put the event in perspective.

Another important thing to do is to verbalize your feelings about a stressful event. Talk to your mate, your parents, a friend, or your pastor. If you feel as if there’s simply no one to confide in, ask your family physician for a referral for a good therapist. Talking about your feelings is an important part of the healing process, and will enable you to deal with the stress much more efficiently.

Why not try to put down your feelings in writing? Start a diary or journal and make a commitment to write down your worries, stresses and problems you’re facing. It’s a rejuvenating feeling and can help you solve problems too. Find ways to temporarily reduce the stress you’re facing now, it may be taking a hot bath or reorganizing your personal files. Find out more about techniques that’ll help you minimize the stresses in your life – that everything can be managed and life does not end, when you’re facing life’s stressful events.

Now that you’re familiar with the stress scale, let’s form a more pro-active approach. For starters, if your marriage is not improving with counseling, perhaps it’s time to consider preparing for divorce. Also, if your father is in the hospital and suffering from a major illness, try your best to do all you can for him before he dies. What you’re doing here is preparing for catastrophe. While it’s stressful to think about such calamities, it can also help you handle life’s traumatic events.

Lastly, try to take things slowly, don’t try to speed through life when making big choices, especially when facing a crisis. Know that many things in life do not need fast decisions. If you have time on your side, use it to thing through things carefully instead of using snap judgments. Being calm helps a lot in handling complex decisions.

Rene Lacapehas been in the stress management field for quite some time. He has done many remarkable deeds to help cure the stressed patients together with medications. He is very understanding and people like him with it.

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