Stress Management Can Require Commitment
When stress is mentioned (and it seems to be mentioned frequently) it seems to be an unavoidable part of modern life.
No one raises an eyebrow when people say they are stressed.
But, though stress is commonplace to talk about, there is not much information about real solutions that can eliminate the stress that seems to be part of everyone's life.
Neither is it commonly understood how many chronic conditions are stress related.
Doctors know that stress is an underlying cause of many chronic health problems for which people seek relief.
Busy doctors have trouble taking the time to outline and oversee a behavioral program that can e effective for stress management.
Stress management can be difficult because it is best treated with behavioral methods that train your body over time how to become a buffer to the negative effects of stress.
Because it takes time to learn stress management techniques and apply them, it can take patience and commitment to continue to apply these techniques until positive changes start to occur.
If a chronic health problem has be present for many years, it can take weeks or even a few months to see a change.
But, once the benefits of a stress management system start people often feel empowered to continue.
For example, I recently spoke with a man who is in his mid 50s (he says his biological age is a 'young' 50) who has an extremely healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a vegetarian diet and he is not overweight.
His problem? He has high blood pressure.
His naturopathic doctor is mystified and he is mystified.
Because he is committed to lowering his blood pressure without medication, he purchased a Resperate home biofeedback unit (FDA cleared to lower blood pressure) and has been using it for about a month and he has not yet seen his blood pressure decrease, hence his call to us.
We have had two lengthy phone conversations and he appears to be having difficulty learning how to relax and manage his stress.
He is, obviously, a very motivated and active individual who is used to operating in a mode of focused attention and accomplishment (not too unusual for our society) and relaxation is foreign to him.
Learning how to operate in a manner (at least briefly) that is less focused and less aggressive is a challenge for him.
It is interesting in this context to remember that the two cardiologists who originally described the Type A Personality noted that the front edge of their waiting room chairs were worn down and this was the clue which led them to their discovery of the Type A Personality.
Their cardiac patients were literally unable to sit back and relax, even while they were waiting for their doctor with nowhere else to go.
Given all the pressure to perform and accomplish in our society it is not surprising that adopting new skills to manage stress that involve less aggressive and more patient behavior can be difficult.
Learning these new skills may be difficult but they can also be rewarding.
No one raises an eyebrow when people say they are stressed.
But, though stress is commonplace to talk about, there is not much information about real solutions that can eliminate the stress that seems to be part of everyone's life.
Neither is it commonly understood how many chronic conditions are stress related.
Doctors know that stress is an underlying cause of many chronic health problems for which people seek relief.
Busy doctors have trouble taking the time to outline and oversee a behavioral program that can e effective for stress management.
Stress management can be difficult because it is best treated with behavioral methods that train your body over time how to become a buffer to the negative effects of stress.
Because it takes time to learn stress management techniques and apply them, it can take patience and commitment to continue to apply these techniques until positive changes start to occur.
If a chronic health problem has be present for many years, it can take weeks or even a few months to see a change.
But, once the benefits of a stress management system start people often feel empowered to continue.
For example, I recently spoke with a man who is in his mid 50s (he says his biological age is a 'young' 50) who has an extremely healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a vegetarian diet and he is not overweight.
His problem? He has high blood pressure.
His naturopathic doctor is mystified and he is mystified.
Because he is committed to lowering his blood pressure without medication, he purchased a Resperate home biofeedback unit (FDA cleared to lower blood pressure) and has been using it for about a month and he has not yet seen his blood pressure decrease, hence his call to us.
We have had two lengthy phone conversations and he appears to be having difficulty learning how to relax and manage his stress.
He is, obviously, a very motivated and active individual who is used to operating in a mode of focused attention and accomplishment (not too unusual for our society) and relaxation is foreign to him.
Learning how to operate in a manner (at least briefly) that is less focused and less aggressive is a challenge for him.
It is interesting in this context to remember that the two cardiologists who originally described the Type A Personality noted that the front edge of their waiting room chairs were worn down and this was the clue which led them to their discovery of the Type A Personality.
Their cardiac patients were literally unable to sit back and relax, even while they were waiting for their doctor with nowhere else to go.
Given all the pressure to perform and accomplish in our society it is not surprising that adopting new skills to manage stress that involve less aggressive and more patient behavior can be difficult.
Learning these new skills may be difficult but they can also be rewarding.
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