R 281600Z APR 00
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//M&RA//
TO MARADMIN
BT
UNCLAS
MARADMIN 224/00
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC MRS//
SUBJ/MAY 2000 HEALTH PROMOTION MESSAGE//
POC/M. W. GILDAY/CAPT/CMC MRS/-/TEL:(703) 784-9542/TEL:DSN 278-9542
/TEL:FAX 278-9822//
RMKS/1. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FY 2000 NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
CENTER, THE HQMC MONTHLY HEALTH PROMOTION MESSAGE THEME FOR MAY 2000
HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS STRESS MANAGEMENT. THE INTENT OF THIS MESSAGE
IS TO PROVIDE MARINES AND COMMANDERS WITH TOOLS TO COMBAT STRESS.
2. STRESS CAN CHALLENGE US IN POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE WAYS, BOTH
PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. RESEARCH IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY HAS LINKED
CERTAIN BEHAVIORS AND ACTIVITIES WITH IMPROVED RESISTANCE TO STRESS.
MARINES MUST CHOOSE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO MAKE POSITIVE CHOICES IN
THEIR DAILY LIFE. SOME SUGGESTIONS INCLUDE:
- EAT NUTRITIOUS FOODS
- GET REGULAR REST
- EXERCISE REGULARLY
- BELIEVE IN SOMETHING OR SOMEONE
- ENCOURAGE FRIENDSHIPS
- HAVE A HOBBY
3. ANGER IS A COMMON BYPRODUCT OF STRESS. MANY MARINES BELIEVE THAT EXPRESSING ANGER THROUGH AGGRESSION IS INSTINCTIVE, AND A HEALTHY WAY
TO GET RID OF THE ANGER. THE EXACT OPPOSITE IS TRUE. AGGRESSION IS
A LEARNED BEHAVIOR, ACTED OUT BY INDIVIDUALS WITH POOR IMPULSE
CONTROL. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT A CONTINUAL FOCUS ON THE EXPRESSION
OF ANGER WILL ACTUALLY INCREASE HOSTILITY.
4. THERE ARE MANY TOOLS AVAILABLE TO HELP MARINES MANAGE ANGER.
SOME OF THESE INCLUDE:
A. KEEP AN ANGER LOG - TAKE AN HONEST LOOK AT HOSTILITY LEVELS.
MAKE NOTE OF THE FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY OF ANGER.
B. TALK TO YOURSELF - MAKE AN AGREEMENT WITH YOURSELF TO TRY AND
KEEP YOUR COOL UNDER STRESSFUL CIRCUMSTANCES.
C. COOL IT! - WHEN YOU BECOME AWARE OF HOSTILE THOUGHTS OR
ATTITUDES, VERBALLY TELL YOURSELF TO "STOP" OR "COOL IT DOWN". THIS
WILL ACTUALLY DECREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING HOSTILE OR
AGGRESSIVE.
D. DISTRACT YOURSELF - WHEN YOU CANNOT CHANGE A SITUATION, OR
HAVE ASSESSED THAT IT IS NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE OF BECOMING IRRITATED,
TURN TO A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE LIKE EXERCISE OR A HOBBY.
5. STRESS CAN ALSO LEAD TO BURNOUT, AND VICE VERSA. BURNOUT IS
USUALLY THE RESULT OF PUSHING TOO HARD WITHOUT SUPPORT RELIEF. IT
CAN LAST A FEW DAYS, OR WEEKS, OR BECOME CHRONIC DUE TO YEARS OF
UNRELENTING PRESSURE. INITIAL BURNOUT SYMPTOMS OFTEN INCLUDE A LOSS
OF: ENERGY, DRIVE, PLAYFULNESS, CONFIDENCE, CONCENTRATION, AND
SATISFACTION. UNMANAGED, BURNOUT CAN LEAD TO EXHAUSTION, BITTERNESS,
CYNICISM, IRRITABLIITY, AND INEFFECTIVENESS.
6. MARINES HAVE A BUILT-IN REMEDY TO STRESS AND BURNOUT. IT'S
CALLED ANNUAL LEAVE. AS THE NAME IMPLIES, MARINES SHOULD BE ABLE TO
TAKE LEAVE AND "LEAVE" THEIR WORK (AND ALL OF THE PRESSURE,
CONFLICTS, STRESS, AND UNCERTAINTY THAT GOES WITH IT) BEHIND THEM FOR
SHORT PERIODS OF TIME THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE
STOP BEING MARINES, JUST THAT WE TAKE A BREAK FROM THE WORK WE
PERFORM DAILY.
7. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE METHODS FOR COMBATING STRESS, AND ITS
ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON STRESS MANAGEMENT,
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SEMPER FIT CENTER.
8. ENHANCING OUR READINESS FOR THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY
REQUIRES THAT ALL MARINES, MALE AND FEMALE, FROM OUR YOUNGEST PRIVATE
TO OUR SENIOR COMMANDERS, BE PROACTIVE IN ENHANCING HEALTHY
LIFESTYLES AND REDUCING HEALTH DETRACTORS FOR A FIT AND READY FORCE.
//
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