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Everyone faces stress, It’s a normal and unavoidable part oflife. The ability to manage or cope with stress enables some people to absorb demands and hardships into a happy, healthy and productive life. Some people, like springs, seem to be made of tougher material that can bounce back under a heavy load, while others get “bent out of shape" under the same pressure. Learning to manage or cope with stress can help strengthen people to resist the bad effects of stress. Good and Bad Stress Many people assume that all stress is bad. However, stress can be good or bad, depending on the individual and the source of stress. Short-term or moderate levels of stress lead to in- creased motivation, creativity and ac- complishments. The damaging kind of stress is the long-term or continuing high levels of stress. The bad kind of stress is called distress, and it can liter« ally make people miserable and/or sick. Distress is associated with many ill- nesses and diseases, such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, ulcers, diabetes, headaches, and backaches to name a few. Thus, the current concern about stress is a largely health-related issue. Carolyn Lentz has a Master of Science degree in family econorriic: and manage- ment from the University of Nebraska. A resident of Guelph, 0nL, sire is now com- pleting her dactorare at the University of Missouri on the relationship between stress and personality. STRESS: By Carolyn Lentz You have to believe in happiness, 0r happiness never Comes 7 Ah, that is the reason a bird can sing 7 On his darkest day he believes in spring. 7 Douglas lllafloch Sources of Stress Stress IS the budin reaction or re- sponsc to changes. demands, pressures or fear of threatening situations. ll may help to understand stress by dis- tinguishing stress from the causes or sources. Some pressures and demands come as a normal part of life events or the world in which we live. including pleasant and unpleasant evenls stem~ mlng from family. work, friendships. etc. Other pressures and demands COmC from deep within each person’s unique personality. Differing personal- ities cause people to be ambitious. competitive. aggressrve. anxious or outgoing. However. the important point is that the sources of sir can come from many events and feelings. some from within the pcrsnnahty and others from avoidable or unavoidable events. Thus. the causes or sources of stress are many and Wlll differ for each person and his Siluailflll. Furthermore. individuals respond diflercnily in stressful situations. Some people seem to enjoy challenges such as public speaking. while Others Would lind il frightening. These differences Ill rc~ sponse to asituation are like the terms of an old saying, “one man's mean Is another‘s poison." One slrcss cspcrl has often said, “It‘s not what happens to you that matters but what you make ofit." Warning Signs Most people are aware ol'conlinulng high levels of stress when they are ex- periencing it. But there are a few coinâ€" Boon 0r Bane? The Choice Could Be Yours mun signs most people have when ilu: pressures or demands get to he more than {he} can tolerate well. Some of them are: - general irritabilil). IICH‘UIISHL‘SS or depression - general worry or Ll fear \vilhoin knowing whul you are afraid of or worrying without an apparent cause I impulsive behavior. emotional insta- bilil)‘ or “flying off the handle" â€" overpowcrlng urge lo cry and hide 0 Inability to conccnirale or full - feelings of unrcahiy, weakness nl‘ dininess - feeling tired and weak - feeling tense. keyed up. illlcr_\ or a lcndenc)‘ to he startled by snuill sounds - insomnia - diarrhea or indigcslion I headaches or hackuchcs I loss of appetite or compulsive cullng 0 increased smoking or driuklng a nightmares - accident proncness Remember lhcsc are only common distress tndlculurs. Slncc cucll prison reacts lo stress dilicrcully, Ihc)‘ Will each show dillcrmg symptoms or com- hnnnionx‘ ol'symploms. Stress Management The most Widely rccogni/cd nlcuns‘ of dcullng Willi distress. Is pliysicnl c.\- crcisc. ll hchs keep the body healthy, clears the mind. and LI]le in rest, [chis- ution and sleep. A Pll and direction Is tvrdc for persons over arc resuming or llndcrrulxlng a physical Illness program. Appropriulc physical flincss programs can he designed lor almost any ugc level or range ol'ulnliucs, Relaxation techniques and mcdilav lion are popular lorms (ll stress mun~ ugemcnl lur some people. It helps in take it break and get away from pres- iciun‘x approval y recommended .5 years <i| age who 'I