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If you think the stress caused by the war with Iraq
and the general uncertain state of the world is getting to you, imagine
the pressure British Prime Minister Tony Blair must feel as one of the
few world powers to support the U.S. in its efforts. So how does Mr. Blair
cope? According to the Sunday Independent, he is has become a “fitness
fanatic,” working out or playing tennis nearly every day. He also
plays the guitar. And his reading isn’t confined to the reams of
intelligence reports and Cabinet papers he gets each day. Most recently
he has been reading a new book of Peter Cook scripts, “Tragically
I Was a Single Twin.”
Surely if the leader of a country at war can find effective
ways of coping with the current crisis, there is hope for the rest of
us! If you’ve been carrying around too much stress lately, it’s
possible to deal with it and even redirect it in positive ways to help
you get through the challenging days ahead. The tips below are adapted
from the National Mental Health Association.
Advice for Getting Out from Under Stress:
- Stay connected. Remember, you’re not alone. Discuss your
concerns with your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. They may
be experiencing some of the same feelings. Other sources of support
may be your place of worship or your company’s employee assistance
program, which may offer counseling free of charge. Dependents of military
personnel should find out what kind of assistance is available through
the specific military branch’s family services.
- Get physical. Take a tip from Tony Blair and develop a regular
exercise routine. If exercise is new to you, try walking around the
block each evening, playing tennis, working in the garden or just doing
stretching exercises in your living room.
- Avoid drugs and alcohol. Just like stress, they rob you of
energy and cloud your perceptions.
- Make time for relaxation. Reduce the amount of time you spend
worrying about things you can’t control. A good way to do this
is to cut down or eliminate activities that cause you stress. For example,
spend less time watching the news. Catch a movie or a concert, join
a club, call a friend, play with the kids or the dog, go fishing.
- Take back some control. You can’t control the war or
events associated with it, but you can exercise control over some areas
of your life. Maintain your routine as much as possible. Take positive
action: Write an encouraging letter to a friend or relative serving
overseas. Attend a meeting on community preparedness. Send a donation
to a relief fund. Volunteer. There are many organizations that could
use your help.
- Take reasonable precautions. Make an emergency communications
plan with family and friends. Re-introduce yourself to neighbors and
exchange phone/cell phone numbers. Stay informed about current events,
but don’t become obsessed by the news coverage of the war.
- Be optimistic about the challenges ahead. Try to maintain a
positive outlook. Remember that the nation has survived other difficult
times. Stay in touch with your spirituality, if you find it comforting.
- Seek professional help if you are experiencing thoughts of
suicide, hopelessness or extreme anger. This could be especially important
for those who live with depression, substance abuse problems, anxiety
or post-traumatic stress disorder. Your local mental health association
can help you find a social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist in your
community.
The National Mental Health Association has additional
resources available to help. They can be reached at www.nmha.org
or call toll-free: 800-969-NMHA (6642).
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