Reflections
“Six Keys to Better Stress Management”
Lara Krawchuk, MSW, LSW, MPH
April 2004
Let’s be honest. Americans live in a high action, high intensity, and high stress world. Many of us spend our lives chasing the mythical “gold” at the end of the rainbow and running ourselves ragged in the process. Living with a chronic or disabling condition introduces many additional stressors; including physical discomfort, uncertainty, role changes, financial disruption, relationship strain, and finding meaning in one’s situation. These complex issues sometimes send affected individuals and families tumbling into a dark pit of emotional and physical distress. Learning to cope with seemingly endless stress, can feel completely overwhelming. However, finding the right keys to opening your personal door to better stress management is extremely worthwhile. The following, six, fairly simple keys to stress management can ultimately help bring about a significant increase in physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual well-being for you and the people you love.
The first key to better stress management is recognizing that every person’s journey is unique. Finding your own optimal approach to improved stress management should not be viewed as a win or lose proposition, but rather as an uncharted path where every step (and sometimes misstep) along the way brings valuable information to build upon. Flexibility, a sense of adventure, and a health dose of realistic expectation are critical to finding your way.
The second key to is information gathering. Good information about stress management can be found through books, internet sites, wellness programs, support groups, medical staff members, clergy, and community based practitioners. Challenge yourself to learn about the many of techniques specifically designed to decrease the impact of stress on the lives of human beings. Some techniques, such as guided imagery, massage, meditation, tai chi, and yoga have solid scholarly research backing their claims to improve health and well-being. Do not be afraid to also be adventuresome, but beware of overstated promises or claims of miraculous “cures”. No honest stress management program can claim to be a “cure all” for any particular situation, but with practice, many can positively impact your physical and emotional life.
The third and fourth keys are choosing an intriguing stress management approach and then testing it out. Many techniques can be practiced at home with the help of a book or CD. Venture to your local bookstore, library or internet site for resources to help you get started. You may prefer to try a relaxation technique “in community”, such as in a workshop or class. This is a particularly effective approach because you direct access to a wise teacher and a roomful of other people with whom to swap notes after sessions. However, you decide to test things out, it is best to choose one approach, such as relaxing breathing, mindfulness meditation, gentle yoga, or guided imagery and give a real try. Remember that these approaches are not always intuitive and that you may only feel the benefits after you give it some time, which leads me to our fifth key…
The fifth key is really simple. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and more PRACTICE. Give your selected technique a minimum of a few weeks to sink in. If you still do not enjoy it or feel any benefits at all, then move on to something else and repeat keys three and four. Eventually you WILL find something that improves your personal well-being. Remember to allow this journey to be enjoyable.
The sixth and final key is perhaps the most challenging one on our list. This involves recognizing the benefits of your practice. “Success” may be clear cut, as in the cases of greatly decreased physical pain, an ability to calm anxious feelings when they arise, or getting a good night’s rest for the first time in months. More frequently however, “success” is subtle, such as noticing a greater sense of overall well-being, feeling less overwhelmed by your life circumstances, enjoying your loved ones more, or simply feeling a little less alone or out of control. Success is truly unique to each individual. Only you can really tell if your practice is making a difference. Your loved ones are also good sources of information, because they may see things from a different perspective, but ultimately you are in control of your relaxation practice and you get to decide if it is working for you. Be open to the possibilities and many wonderful things can start to happen!
So, good luck on your journey. May you find yourself inspired to explore your own keys to better stress management! On our reading list (from which you can connect directly to www.Amazon.com) we have included several books/CDs to help get you started. If you have additional questions, please contact us at lkrawchuk@conillist.org or attend one of our Philadelphia, PA based educational programs, called the Art of Living with Chronic Illness, where we frequently discuss issues related to better stress management and optimal well-being.
Lara Krawchuk, MSW, LSW, MPH