Stress Management
It’s a great job, BUT…
Jill looks at the clock and realizes she has 45 minutes left of her work day. She starts to type faster. Whatever she doesn’t finish, she has to take home.
The quarterly reports are due in two days. No matter how early she starts on the reports, it always feels as though she’s behind.
Jill has been the office manager and head of accounts payable for the past 3 years. She loves her job, has a knack for numbers, and enjoys when everything balances at the end.
Responsibilities and Pressures
What Jill doesn’t like is waiting on others to complete their portions of the report. The office is full of procrastinators, and they make her job challenging. She carries the responsibility and pressure of meeting the quarterly deadline.
The first year she handled the reports with ease. The past two years, though, as each deadline approached, she noticed she got major headaches, restless (or no) sleep, and her stomach was always upset. Last year she actually thought she was developing ulcers.
Body Reactions to Stress
She visited her doctor, who told her she was fine… maybe a few changes to her diet… maybe more leafy greens. He did ask about work and discussed the possibility of stress-induced stomach aches and other physical symptoms.
Jill knew that she experienced physical pains around the time reports were due. The days following the due date, after everything was turned in, the aches and pains went away. Jill even noticed she had more energy and would sleep better.
Jill loves her job, but she believes there has to be a better way.
Why should she accept this? Why… every three months her body is just going to turn against her—making her irritable and exhausted?
Anxiety, Depression, and Stress
Anxiety, depression, and stress are emotions everyone feels at some point in their life. These are common reactions to life’s challenges.
On the surface they can all look a lot alike, but they’re distinctly different.
Anxiety and depression are serious illnesses but are treatable. In fact, the same medications can be used to treat both. The two also share symptoms like nervousness, irritability, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating.
Some people can become confused when they are attempting to figure out what’s going on or what they’re experiencing.
When you’re depressed, it can affect just about every aspect of your life: how you think, feel, behave, and function.
It varies, but people who are depressed experience discouragement, sadness, hopelessness, anger, lack of motivation or interest, low energy, insomnia, or feeling overwhelmed by personal interactions and daily tasks.
Stress Differs from Anxiety
Stress and anxiety may seem similar, but they’re not the same. What’s the difference?
Stress is a response to daily pressures or a threatening situation…
… whereas anxiety is a reaction to that stress.
Anxiety has no clear cause and tends to last longer and be more difficult to treat.
Recognize any of these symptoms of stress?
Headaches, high blood pressure, chest pain, heat palpitations, loss of sleep, agitation, difficulty quieting the mind, low self-esteem, low energy, upset stomach, frequent colds/illnesses
Confronting Stressors, Changing Course
Stress usually goes away when the stressors disappear…
But, without help, chronic stress can turn into anxiety or depression.
Are you ready to learn how to better manage your stress and improve your quality of life?
Call me today to work toward feeling better tomorrow! (559) 360-7918