Fighting Fit: How to Make Stress Work for you
The first in a series of articles on using stress for positive ends
by FWC Assistant Instructor Adam Horner
Stress. We read about it in the press, hear about it in conversation with our colleagues, family and friends, and yet if any of us were asked to say what we meant by it, the answer would probably be long-winded and vague.
This is the first in a series of articles discussing stress. It affects us all, and these examinations will help you understand it, cope with it, and ultimately use it to your own advantage.
So what is this thing, this intangible idea we call stress? To help understand it, we can put stress in a simple scale. Someone unaffected by stress could be described as unconcerned, not bothered or calm. Next up on the scale is worry, where a person becomes irritated, worried, annoyed or fidgety. Turning the dial up another notch brings us to stressed, a state of major irritation, exhibited by someone who is angry, scared, agitated, frightened or frantic.
When a person is under disproportionate levels of stress for an extended period of time, they can slip into a state sometimes referred to as burnout. Unfortunately, this appears similar to the behaviour of a person who is calm, and coping with stress. It is frequently mistaken for the ability to deal with stress, especially when someone superficially appears to be handling the amount of stress they are under. It is distinguishable, but the extra symptoms are subtle; they include listlessness, a lack of care or attention to detail while performing regular tasks. Burnout usually occurs when an individual is under continuous strain from the same source.
There are many different sources of stress, but probably the most frequently cited is work. It could be the actual process of work for someone who dislikes their job, a particular person at work that causes stress like a manager or a colleague, or the conditions of work ? the hours or the location. Probably the next most common cause of stress in the West is relationships, usually a close relationship between two people, but family relationships can cause contention too.
According to the Health and Safety Executive in the UK (HSE), 12.8 million days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety in 2004-2005, and 5 million people described themselves as either 'very stressed' or 'extremely stressed'.
Talking about stress is something that differs between the sexes, and between people of different ages. In general, men are much more likely to soldier on when under stress, and either try to hide it or simply deny that it exists. Women, as a rule, will talk about their relationships and issues at work. The younger generation, those just starting work, will often tolerate more stress in the belief that it is normal. Those older will frequently have their own tricks and techniques for handling stress, but aren't always able to spot the signs of stress in others.
So stress runs on a scale, and everybody is at some point on that scale at all times. But, to be healthy, everybody should be at the bottom of that scale, ie calm, for at least five minutes every day, and preferably for much more than that. In the following articles we will look at understanding stress, what it does to you, how to cope with it on a daily basis, and better, how to use your martial arts to actively turn stress to your advantage.