Reprinted from the ACJ - April, 1996
What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. And as a special bonus prize, we get ulcers, lose our hair and get "worry wrinkles," all from the fine people at Stress Inc.
Daily life used to be easy. Wake up, put on your fur-lined loin cloth (no PETA folks to hassle you about your fashion choice). Go out, club an animal for dinner (no ASPCA to give you grief). Wait for a lightning strike to start a fire. Cook dinner, clean the cave and go to bed. Seems easy enough, but it is well known that most caveman ailments were stress related. Either that or large carnivore related.
In today's world, juggling all of our responsibilities is very stressful indeed. But the experts say that isn't all bad. Stress in life is what keeps it exciting and entertaining. Stress doesn't have to be negative. Some positive stressors include athletic or business victories, childbirth, marriage (at least initially) or winning the lottery. While all positive, they put extra demands on our minds and bodies to deal with these stimuli.
Stress is defined as the non-specific reaction of our bodies to any demands put upon it. Distress is the negative physical reaction to excess demands placed upon us. Things like fear, worry, injury and mourning all quickly cause us distress.
In response to stress, our glands release increased amounts of hormones, our heartbeat and breathing rates increase, and our blood vessels dilate to accommodate increased blood flow to our muscles and brain. This leads to a decision of "Fight or Flight."
If a caveman ran across an angry rabbit, he fought. If he came upon an angry lion, he ran. Easy enough back then. Nowadays, sprinting out of the radiator shop as a disgruntled customer enters is not considered an appropriate response. So we must develop other methods to identify, control and alleviate stress.
Dr. Thomas Holmes of the University of Washington developed a scale to determine how much stress we are under. The table of stresses is extensive and each stress factor is given a numerical value. Some of the stressors are positive events, some are negative.
Here is a sampling of the more extreme causes: death of spouse = 300 points; injury = 53; marriage = 50; job loss = 47; childbirth = 39; business trouble = 23; vacation = 13. The list does not include OSHA inspections, lead poisoning or a three-day backlog of work, but I'm sure they're right up there in adding to the burden of stress. A total of 300 points accumulated in a single year is an indicator of excessive stress.
In response to these stressors, we normally exhibit a three-tier reaction. A pioneer in the field of stress research, Dr. Hans Selye, classified our responses as the General Adaption Syndrome.
First, we experience alarm. The body releaseshormones and increases its readiness. Second, we exhibit resistance. In this tier we begin to deal with the stimuli. White blood cells attack at the site of the injury. Our brain increases activity to solve the problem. In the third tier—exhaustion—our body is depleted and can no longer fight back.
It is in tier three that harm can occur. High blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, colitis and indigestion are all possibilities. It is usually the weakest link in our metabolism that breaks down.
At the same time, our overtaxed nervous system goes through six stages of behavior in response to an extreme stressor. Stage one brings increased perception and energy release. This can be a good result. But in stage two we feel tired, our muscles ache and we can't relax. Stage three yields stomach trouble, faintness and sleep disorders. Stage four finds us unable to concentrate or cope. We experience nameless fears.
Then… Where was I? Oh man, I can't handle this… They're all against me! Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you!!
I'm sorry, I slipped a little there. OK, stage five materializes as extreme fatigue and pervasive fear. This leads to stage six's panic, hyper ventilation, tingling in the hands and feet, and general confusion.
Constant mistakes, irritability, avoidance of responsibility and depression can signal that we are moving through the stages. If we recognize these indicators of stress response in ourselves, we should first identify the cause. It could be excessive expectations of others or ourselves, excessive workload, physical injury or a traumatic experience.
Dealing with stress is a two-fold process. First, identify the specific causes. If a solution is not feasible, then we have to find ways to take our mind off the problem. Doing something else that gives us a sense of accomplishment and a good feeling about ourselves is the solution.
Exercise is excellent because it relieves built up energy and makes us feel better. Watching your diet is recommended. Avoiding excess sugar is suggested. Getting enough sleep is beneficial. Meditation can aid many people in relaxing mind and body.
Speaking about your concerns with your wife or a friend is an excellent way to relieve the "me against the world" feeling. NARSA meetings are an ideal forum for relieving work-related concerns.
Remember not to get overwhelmed. Solve one problem at a time. If you need some support, give a friend a call, put on your best loin cloth, and go out and club yourself a nice steak for dinner. You'll feel better.
The above article was written by David M. Brown, Chief Engineer of Johnson Manufacturing Company, Inc. and is published by JOHNSON with the expressed approval of the National Automotive Radiator Service Association and the Automotive Cooling Journal. Other reproduction or distribution of this information is forbidden without the written consent of JOHNSON and NARSA/ACJ. All rights reserved.
JOHNSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
114 Lost Grove Road / PO Box 96 / Princeton, Iowa 52768-0096
Phone 563-289-5123 or Fax 563-289-3825