Mastering Stress, Maximizing Success: The Complete Guide

By Dr. L.L. Gill LPC

Yes, stress is a curse, as well as, a blessing, in that it occurs in malignant, as well as, benign forms. Stress can be both constructive and destructive, in that it may open the doors of possibility, while shutting the doors of others. It is the negative side of stress that creates the overall problem for us as living beings. Stress has been known to be devastating and problematic to us. It creates difficulties for us when it does not let up; and when it is triggered by ordinary, everyday events. We are currently living in a psychologically, hyped up, exhausted, and stressed out society; whereby, we are experiencing nervous breakdowns, burnout, stress-related illnesses; and ultimately death.

What am I prepared to do about this stress that I am experiencing?

Fortunately, there are more constructive ways of handling stress . This book is not intended to be a do-it-yourself guide to mental and emotional health, although it may provide information and insights that will direct ways toward self-improvement. This book is designed to help both individuals and organizations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512734966

Dr. L.L. Gill LPC

Dr. L.L. Gill is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been working with children and families for over twenty years. She is passionate about her relationship with Christ and specializes in genuinely helping people help themselves by healing through Christ. Dr. Gill is married with adult children and currently resides in Florida.

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Copyright © 2016 Dr. L.L. Gill, LPC.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-3497-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-3498-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-3496-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016904438

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/20/2016

CONTENTS

Introduction

The Need to Know about Stress

Coping and Preventing

Understanding Emotions

Anxiety Free Living

Depression ≠ Failure

Achieving Wholeness

Living On Borrowed Time

Embracing Rest and Recreation

Emotional Healing…Did you know?

True Story~~My Life Spared…It Ain’t About You

Stress in the Workplace

Stress-Management Programs

LAE-LAH Stress Reduction Program

Self-Assessment

Stress is as necessary to life as eating and communicating. Without stress we would not be able to appreciate our limits or attain our objectives. Being under the right kind of pressure, whether self-induced or externally created, is integral to responding appropriately to the challenges of everyday life. To desire an existence that is stress-free is quite literally a death wish, for it is stress that tells our bodies when enough is enough and we need to STOP!

As beings, one is in search of a calm body and a calm mind. Who desires to live a life of distress? The ultimate destination of human life is mental stability and peace. Christ can not only save your life; He will help you to save your soul. However, we as individuals have a responsibility. We are responsible for keeping our bodies clean and protecting it from harm. Remember, our body does not belong to us individually; rather it belongs to the Lord. The body is a temple and we have no right to vandalize the body.

Stress—what is it? As you navigate through the pages of this book, you will be able to grasp the concept of stress on different levels.

How can one manage stress and maximize success? As you approach this journey let the words marinate within your mind and penetrate your body and soul. You are on the road to managing stress and maximizing success.

With Christ one has the ability to tap into the body’s intrinsic healing system, calming, and reintegration of the mind, body, and emotions. We have the ability to take back control and turn off fight or flight when it comes to effectively responding to everyday life stressors.

Christ is the natural, effective prescription for managing stress. Christ calms the sympathetic nervous system, which generates adrenaline…Christ stimulates circulation, including sending more blood to the sleep center of the brain. Christ calms storms, can He not calm us?

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship…And He was in the hinder part of the ship asleep on a pillow…And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4.37-39, KJV)

Stress is inescapable in the world in which we live and our stressors come from different arenas in our life. It is important to note that stress affects each person differently. What may appear stressful to one person may not be stressful to another at all. However, common stressors are generated through our relationships within the home, the workplace, and the community as a whole. There are three key concepts:

• Stress—body’s reaction to any demand made upon it

• Stressor—an event or condition that produces a psychological or physical reaction in the individual that is usually unpleasant and sometimes produces symptoms of emotional or physiological disability

• Stress reaction—consequences of the stimulus provided by a stressor

Introduction

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3.5-6, KJV)

Before we begin this journey together, let’s look at the broad social context and a number of rapid changes one encounters:

• contemporary economic problems

• era of rising entitlements

• increased educational opportunity

• challenge to authority

• decline in confidence in institutions

• resistance to change

• changing attitudes toward work

• the changing family

• society is changing faster than the work place

Yes, stress is a curse, as well as, a blessing, in that it occurs in malignant, as well as, benign forms. Stress can be both constructive and destructive, in that it may open the doors of possibility, while shutting the doors of others. It is the negative side of stress that creates the overall problem for us as living beings. Stress has been known to be devastating and problematic to us. It creates difficulties for us when it does not let up; and when it is triggered by ordinary, everyday events.

We are currently living in a psychologically, hyped up, exhausted, and stressed out society; whereby, we are experiencing nervous breakdowns, burnout, stress-related illnesses; and ultimately death.

There are many general sources of stress; however, this list is not exhaustive:

• hectic pace of life

• opening/operating a business

• continual activity and movement

• congested traffic and life patterns in general

• demands which stretch people beyond their limitations

• unrealistic expectations of self, within relationships, as well as, on the job

• chronic tension in life situation

Please note, these things in and of themselves are not stresses; rather it is the perception of the person experiencing the event at that point and time in their life. Therefore, an important distinction is generally drawn between the sources of potential stress and an individual’s perception or interpretation of them, making these sources into stressors.

When we are stressed, our bodies are designed to pump more adrenaline in an event to help us cope with a given situation. However, if this continues beyond a reasonable time, one begins to suffer from stress, and our performance becomes adversely affected. Unfortunately, when this happens, it does not limit itself to our nerves; rather it extends into our whole bodies. It is at this point that stress begins to seek the weakest link within our bodies.

Excessive stress can cause substantial damage to the human body. Remember, we are not partial beings, therefore, when one part of our body is affected, multiple parts are likely to suffer. Have you ever fractured a bone/ligament in your ankle? The pain does not isolate itself to this area. It has the capacity to affect the entire foot, and at times, working its way up the leg. These connections within our body are critical to maximizing success—we must master the management of stress.

Are you currently suffering from any of the following?

• exhaustion

• depression

• insomnia

• migraines

• ulcers

• colitis

• high blood pressure

• asthma

• allergies

• heart disease

• alcoholism

• divorce

If you answered yes to any of these, you may be experiencing stress. Continue reading to learn more about what can be done.

Did you know that chronic stress depletes both the brain’s natural tranquilizers and the body’s immune system? This ultimately results in a greater reliance on chemical tranquilizers, painkillers and antibiotics? Are we a pill popping society? Does this help the overall make-up of the body, or just temporarily alter a current feeling?

There are such thing as positive stressors as well. Yes, stress can be a blessing, if we listen to what our bodies are actually telling us. The body does not generally say give me a pill and keep moving; the body needs a time of rest and restoration.

How stressed am I?

There are measuring devices like the Social Readjustment Rating Scale which seeks to quantify the amount of stress caused by various life events and analyzes a person’s vulnerability to serious physical or psychological illnesses. Generally, when a person’s score is close to or exceeds 300 points, the person is 90 percent likely to experience some physical illness or psychological disturbance in the very near future.

Top of the list of stressors are:

• death of a spouse/close family member

• divorce/marital separation

• getting married

• marital reconciliation

• retiring

• fired from a job

• personal injury/illness

Middle of the list of stressors are:

•