Taking Control Now
Dr. Sternberg thinks that one of the most hopeful aspects of this science
is that it tells us it’s not all in our genes. A growing number of studies
show that, to some degree, you can use your mind to help treat your body.
Support groups, stress relief, and meditation may, by altering stress
hormone levels, all help the immune system. For example, women in support
groups for their breast cancer have longer life spans than women without
such psychological support.
There are several components of stress to think about, including its
duration, how strong it is, and how long it lasts. Every stress has some
effect on the body, and you have to take into account the total additive
effect on the body of all stressors when considering how to reduce stress.
Perhaps the most productive way to think about stress is in terms of
control. Dr. Sternberg shows a slide of an F-14 jet flying sideways by
the deck of an aircraft carrier, its wings completely vertical. “The
Navy Commander who flew that jet told me that he was the only one in
the photo who was not stressed, and that’s because he was the one in
control. The officer sitting in the seat ten feet behind him was in the
exact same physical situation but was not in control. Control is a very
important part of whether or not we feel stressed.
So if you can learn to feel that you’re in control or actually take
control of certain aspects of the situation that you’re in, you can reduce
your stress response.” Studies show that gaining a sense of control can
help patients cope with their illness, if not help the illness itself.
Until science has more solid answers, it can’t hurt to participate
in support groups and seek ways to relieve stress, Dr. Sternberg says.
But what you need to remember is if you do these things and you’re not
successful in correcting whatever the underlying problem is, it’s not
your fault because there’s a biology to the system. “You need to know
the benefits of the system,” she says, “but its limitations as well.”
In other words, try not to get too stressed about being stressed. a
report from The NIH Word on Health, October 2000
For more information about this story, contact:
Harrison Wein, Ph.D.
Writer and Editor
NIH Office of Communications and Public Liaison
Phone: 301-435-7489
Fax: 301-402-1485
E-mail: weinh@od.nih.gov |
A
Word to the Wise...
Stress Control
First try to identify the things in your life that cause you stress:
marital problems, conflict at work, a death or illness in the family.
Once you identify and understand how these stressors affect you, you
can begin to figure out ways to change your environment and manage them.
If there’s a problem that can be solved, set about taking control and
solving it. For example, you might decide to change jobs if problems
at work are making you too stressed.
But some chronic stressors can’t be changed. For those, support groups,
relaxation, meditation, and exercise are all tools you can use to manage
your stress. If nothing you do seems to work for you, seek a health professional
who can help. Also seek professional help if you find that you worry
excessively about the small things in life.
Keep in mind that chronic stress can be associated with mental conditions
like depression and anxiety disorders as well as physical problems. Seek
professional help if you have:
|
|
Difficulty sleeping |
|
|
Changes in appetite |
|
|
Panic attacks |
|
|
Muscle tenseness and soreness |
|
|
Frequent headaches |
|
|
Gastrointestinal problems |
|
|
Prolonged feelings of sadness or worthlessness |
|