{"id":183,"date":"2012-07-23T16:00:37","date_gmt":"2012-07-23T23:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debbiepetrina.authorsxpress.com\/?p=183"},"modified":"2012-07-23T16:00:37","modified_gmt":"2012-07-23T23:00:37","slug":"stress-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debbiepetrina.com\/?p=183","title":{"rendered":"Stress Management"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe $1 Million Question: What to Do?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

July 23, 2012<\/p>\n

Stress has been analyzed for years to determine if<\/em> stress affects the body. I roll my eyes at these analyses. Personal experience with MS and anyone with MS I have ever talked to knows stress has a direct impact on us in the short or long term. Or any other chronic disease for that matter.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t take a rocket scientist for us to also know that ALL types of stress\u2014physical, mental and emotional–has an impact on MS. While MS research hones in on triggers that bring on MS\u2014viruses, vitamin D deficiency, genetic factors for instance\u2014it seems that the final kicker to bring out the initial MS attack is often the result of an extremely stressful event such as:<\/p>\n

*an accident, injury, or sickness<\/p>\n

*a horrendous altering personal situation (for example, death, divorce, new\u00a0 baby, job loss, etc.)<\/p>\n

*long-term chronic fatigue from being overworked (such as simultaneouslyworking, raising a family, and running a household while neglecting one\u2019s health\u2026)<\/p>\n

And these same long-term chronic stresses can be the precursor for more flare-ups or exacerbations as life goes on. These are serious events that require serious attention.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s forget the \u201cif\u201d in the stress factor and focus on the \u201cwhat to do about it\u201d part, because that\u2019s what really matters.<\/p>\n

The goal? We want to prevent<\/em> it, minimize<\/em> it, and\/or resolve<\/em> stress. The buzz-words used today for this is stress management.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, stress is like anything else in today\u2019s society. It comes in countless varieties\u2014type, intensity, duration, onset, frequency\u2014and there are always more than one to deal with. So for starters, one has to sort out what the stresses are and then what\u2019s causing them. Then we can proceed with prioritizing them and finally managing them. It sounds complicated because many times it is. But going through a process to handle them lessens the overwhelming, impossible feeling they give us and helps us focus on the important ones first.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the first bullet above. Obviously, if we have an accident, injury or sickness, we take steps to get cured or better. During this process our symptoms are in the crazy zone from our defunct immune system, medications, fever, etc. So while we are recovering from our physical problem, we have to address the other associated stresses (pain, medication side effects, fatigue, undone domestic chores\u2026).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to be patient during this relapse, but it helps if you try to stay calm and focused on the fact that: when<\/em> the injury\/sickness is better, the symptoms will be better. The state of mind and a positive attitude is a powerful force on our well-being and healing process.<\/em><\/p>\n

Furthermore, it\u2019s important to takes measures to prevent these things from happening in the first place. For example, if you have a mobility problem from fatigue or balance issues, use walking aids to prevent falling and muscle strain; if someone has a cold or flu, don\u2019t go near them\u2026<\/p>\n

In the other situations above, when things happen that are out of our control (death, job loss, overworked) stress can be minimized\/resolved and here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n