Dealing effectively with stress is essential to good health

Stress is a part of any life. It is how one deals with the stress that make a difference.

If we have learned one thing over the last two years, it is that life is not always going to be a rose garden. In fact, we have all had very few rose gardens during the last two years, or did we?

Dealing with the stresses of life has been a growing episode for most. Most people are not born with the skills to deal with stress but rather it is a skill that we hone into as we deal with life circumstances. Experts believe that parents have the initial job of helping their children deal with stress. Certainly, how parents handle stress themselves is one of those ways, and how they help their children handle stress with guidance is a major way of developing those skills.

Handling stress involves being resilient to life’s up and downs. It involves realizing that there are different ways to skin a cat and it’s important to find the way that is best for your situation. It is also important that people use the resources at hand. So many situations may require collaborative skills. Use the strength of your family, friends, community and culture to help. Make sure your tribe is inclusive of positive and encouraging people; people who will be honest as they help you deal with the situation. This aids in one’s ability to look at a problem from different angles, angles that if looked at solo would not have been seen.

One of the most important ways to deal with the stresses of life is to make taking care of your physical health a priority. It is so important to take the time to eat nutritious foods. It is important to limit or cut out the junk food and invest in the fuel used in your body.

Being physically active also helps with dealing with the stresses of life. Moving that body, helping it to become strong and efficient is such a plus. Achieving the proper amount of sleep is vital to having a clear mind and the energy to deal with the stresses of life.

One of the most important habits in being successful in dealing with stress is to take time for yourself. Stressed out people are often so busy taking care of others that they forget to take time to care of themselves. Taking care of oneself could mean watching a movie you enjoy or cooking a meal you adore or just not doing anything. Self-care is defined by your wants and likes but it must be something that you enjoy. Some experts make a simple suggestion of taking no less than five minutes every day to do something that brings joy into your world.

Dealing with the stresses of life also includes having a guide by which you live. Having principals that give your life structure and meaning are indeed helpful in dealing with stress.

Looking at a stressful situation and finding what it has to teach you is another strategy of dealing with stress. What can you learn from this situation? How can you turn these lemons into lemonade?

Being honest with yourself and seeking help with a trained therapist is another way to deal with the stresses of life. Here, you get professional guidance in handling stress. You get to develop strategies that become tools in your toolbox of life.

Life is to be lived and enjoyed. Stress is a part of any life. It is how you deal with the stress that is the difference. Be proactive and deal with the stress in your life in a positive way.

Dr. Veita Bland is a board-certified Greensboro physician and hypertension specialist. Dr. Bland’s radio show, “It’s a Matter of Your Health,” can be heard live on Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. on N.C. A&T State University’s WNAA, 90.1 FM. Listeners may call in and ask questions. The show is replayed on Sirius 142 at 5 p.m. on Wed. Email Dr. Bland at ideas@blandclinicpa.com.