Health Symposium Series

…the wind beneath our wings

The Meaning of STRESS

Stress is originally a term

used in engineering and
physics meaning the force
exerted on an object.
 The Meaning of STRESS
“Tension produced when a person receives a
stimulus” – Dr. Hans Selye

STIMULUS STRESS RESPONSE RESPONSE

TENSION/STRESS
 Causes of STRESS

1. Physical or Chemical – heat, cold, injury or noise

2. Physiological – hunger, infection, exhaustion

3. Social or Psychological
• Human relations
• Pressures at work or school
• Financial anxiety
• Illness or death of a family member or close friend
• Accidents
• Natural disasters
 Causes of STRESS
Common EXTERNAL Common INTERNAL
Causes Causes
Major life changes Chronic worry
Work Pessimism
Relationship difficulties Negative self-talk
Financial problems Unrealistic expectations /
Perfectionist
Being too busy Rigid thinking; not flexible
Children and family All-or-nothing attitude
What causes people the greatest stress?

Death of a life partner

Divorce/Separation

Marriage
Symptoms of STRESS
 Is there any way to actually measure stress?

Brain waves,
muscular
electrical
activity

Blood
pressure and
heart rate Psychological
tests
Who are most affected?

SERIOUS
RESPONSIBLE
CONSCIENTIOUS
INFLEXIBLE
PEREFCTIONIST
WITHOUT HOBBIES
CONCERNED ABOUT HOW
THEY ARE HELD IN
OTHERS’ ESTIMATION
UNSKILLED IN
EXPRESSING OPINIONS
AND FEELINGS
 Negative Health Effects of STRESS

Increased
stimulation of the
Neuroendocrine
system
 Negative Health Effects of STRESS

Increased
Depressed
susceptibility to
immune system
cancers
 Viewing STRESS in a Positive Way
Life is inherently endowed with the marvelous
capacity to convert even the negative into something
positive. At the most basic level, one’s life is created by
one’s own inner resolve, one’s mind. This is even more
true of a person with faith.

The same is true with stress. The question is whether

we use stress as the wind beneath our wings to soar
high in the sky or whether we allow ourselves to be
blown away by it. We each have the capacity to decide
that by our own mind and inner resolve.
 Significance of STRESS

When we lack the resistance, when we have no

problems to challenge us, we can lose our focus
and sense of direction. It all depends on whether
we can put the wind to good use.
 Handling STRESS

The best method for

managing stress is to
have a positive and
forward-looking
attitude.

Each of us is the
star of our own story. The
best way to live is to
make our own decision
and follow our
own conviction
 Handling STRESS

Laughter and humor are important means of

relieving stress
 Handling STRESS

Sleep (rest) is a very good medicine for stress.

Use time wisely…
 Handling STRESS

Involvement in other activities!

 Handling STRESS
It is important to have
friends with whom one
can talk freely and
consult about anything

Specialists in the field of psychosomatic

medicine refer to friends a person can rely
on and who provide an emotional safety
net as “supporters”. Such friendship and
support are very important elements in
coping with stress.
Being a SUPPORT for Others

Being a GOOD
LISTENER

Listening is so
important. Those who
can really listen to others
have a warm capacity to
reach out and embrace
other people. Just having
someone listen to you can
be very therapeutic.
 Being a SUPPORT for Others

Showing Understanding
and Consideration

Communication
 CONCLUSION

 Working for the sake of others is always

accompanied by great expenditure of energy, and
it may result in deep fatigue
 When we have faith, problems are transformed
into wisdom, into happiness
 Having faith doesn’t mean we will never
experience stress
 Problems are motivation for effort and progress

 The same is true with stress. Stress forces us to

pay attention to our health. Stress, too, serve as
an impetus for growth, for developing our life
condition
THANK YOU!!!