Sress
Stress! The very word caused my heart to race. Stress; it is defined as "a number of normal reactions of the body (mental, emotional, and physiological) designed for self-preservation." Stress then is a good thing – it is the response that can save our lives, protect our loved ones, or give us the vitality to lead an active lifestyle. However when the body is subjected to a stress overload or we experience too many stresses, it can have a detrimental effect on the body.
Many factors cause stress in our lives: illnesses, anxiety, joy, rage, anger, happiness, and love create stress reactions in our bodies. Situations can also lead to stress reactions in our body: getting laid off from a job, death of a friend or loved one, birth of a baby, marriage and moving a household can cause the body to experience stress indicators. Yes, events we often consider happy times cause as much stress as those bad times in our life. Stress contributes to high blood pressure, anxiety attacks, heart attacks, and many other illnesses. Untreated stress can lead to death.
I do not react well to stress. I tend to panic. I know that if I stop breathing in a hospital, lots of people come into the room – very fast. (Even if it is only for a panic attack.) I get lost in the city and announce, "That's it – we are going to die." (Even when I find my way home.) I see a police car and think, "That's it – I'm busted." (Even when I am not speeding.) My computer stops working and immediately I feel worthless and dumb. (Even when it can be fixed.)
Why do I react so badly to stress? I don't know - I don't always. My head knows that my reactions are inappropriate. My heart needs to catch up with my head. The older I get, the calmer I can be. The years have taught me that most everything in life can and will be fixed. My experiences keep pointing me to the fact that God has plans for me – plans for good and not for evil. I have learned to say, "What is the worst thing that can happen to me?" Each time the answer is different, but each answer is similar – "And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife, Let these all be gone, They yet have nothing won; The Kingdom ours remaineth."
Nothing that I can lose on earth can compare to what I will gain in heaven. I do not have to worry about the future - I know where I will be. I can share this Good News with all I see. Do I experience stress? Yes. Will it destroy my life? Not for eternity.
Many factors cause stress in our lives: illnesses, anxiety, joy, rage, anger, happiness, and love create stress reactions in our bodies. Situations can also lead to stress reactions in our body: getting laid off from a job, death of a friend or loved one, birth of a baby, marriage and moving a household can cause the body to experience stress indicators. Yes, events we often consider happy times cause as much stress as those bad times in our life. Stress contributes to high blood pressure, anxiety attacks, heart attacks, and many other illnesses. Untreated stress can lead to death.
I do not react well to stress. I tend to panic. I know that if I stop breathing in a hospital, lots of people come into the room – very fast. (Even if it is only for a panic attack.) I get lost in the city and announce, "That's it – we are going to die." (Even when I find my way home.) I see a police car and think, "That's it – I'm busted." (Even when I am not speeding.) My computer stops working and immediately I feel worthless and dumb. (Even when it can be fixed.)
Why do I react so badly to stress? I don't know - I don't always. My head knows that my reactions are inappropriate. My heart needs to catch up with my head. The older I get, the calmer I can be. The years have taught me that most everything in life can and will be fixed. My experiences keep pointing me to the fact that God has plans for me – plans for good and not for evil. I have learned to say, "What is the worst thing that can happen to me?" Each time the answer is different, but each answer is similar – "And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife, Let these all be gone, They yet have nothing won; The Kingdom ours remaineth."
Nothing that I can lose on earth can compare to what I will gain in heaven. I do not have to worry about the future - I know where I will be. I can share this Good News with all I see. Do I experience stress? Yes. Will it destroy my life? Not for eternity.