Mental Health

Stress... STREss..  and more STRESS!  

by: Mary Erwin

Stress seems unavoidable with today's fast paced lifestyle and cultural expectations.  Stress is the normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upsets your balance in some way (1).  A little stress can be used to our advantage, by making us more alert, more focused on a task and by motivating us to do our best.  The body has an automatic response to stress, called the "fight or flight" syndrome that is designed to protect us from physical and psychological "threats". 

Each person handles stress differently.  How you tolerate stress depends on many things: supportive relationships, outlook on life, sense of control, ability to deal with emotions and genetics (1).  Chronic stress can lead to serious health problems and effect nearly every organ system in our body.

Health problems CAUSED OR WORSENED by stress are *pain *heart disease *autoimmune disease *digestive problems * depression * obesity *skin conditions such as eczema (2). 

The effects of prayer on physical health and well being have been studied by modern scientists for the past 25 years.  The use of prayer has been reported as the most frequent "alternative/complementary treatment" used in conjunction with medical treatment.  In a small study with senior citizens in 2000, 96% of the study group was found to use prayer as a way to cope with stress. Women and Blacks used prayer to cope with stress significantly more than did men and Whites (3).  

Our Bible gives us directions on prayer and how to handle our stress. We can give all our worries to God in prayer and be assured of inner tranquility. 

In Matthew 6:6,-8, Jesus said, when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling... because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Paul writes to the Philippians in 4:6-7, not to be anxious about anything, but with everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  
 
Praise God for giving us a way to talk with Him about our cares!

                      The Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

                       God, grant me the serenity to accept the things

                       I cannot change, courage to change the things

                       I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. 

References

1. Internet www.MayoClinic.com    symptoms of stress

2. Internet www.HelpGuide.org     effects of stress on the body

3. K.S. Dunn, A.L. Horgas, The Prevalence of Prayer as a Spiritual Self -Care Modality In Elders, J Hollis Nurs, Vo. 18, No.4, 337-351 (2000)

Sometimes life can bring about levels of stress, anxiety and depression that go beyond the scope of our staff's level of training ability.  Please click on the counseling support tab to find a  caring professional who may offer the help you need.