Stress Management

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Assessing the existence of stress

Attitude: The attitude of an individual can influence whether a situation or emotion is stressful or not. Negative attitude can be a predictor of stress, because this type of person will often report more stress than a person with a more positive attitude.

Physical well-being: If the nutritional status of the person is poor, the body is in a state of physical stress. As a result, the person can be more susceptible to infections. A poor nutritional state can be related to unhealthy food choices, inadequate food intake, or an erratic eating schedule. A nutritionally unbalanced eating pattern can result in an inadequate intake of nutrients. This form of physical stress also decreases the ability to deal with situations that are perceived as difficult or unmanageable (emotional stress) since malnutrition will affect the way our brain processes information.

Physical activity: Inadequate physical activity can result in a stressful state for the body. Physical activity has many physiologic benefits. A consistent program of physical activity can contribute to a decrease in depression, if it exists. It also improves the feeling of well-being.

Support systems: Most everyone has a best friend or two that they can rely on when they are having a hard time. Minimal or absent support systems therefore make stressful situations more difficult to deal with.

Relaxation: When a person has no hobbies or means of relaxation, they may be unable to handle stressful situations because the individual has no outlet for stress.