Good Health Newsletter

July 2006

Stress: Coping with Some of Life's Biggest Challenges

In May, Steps to Good Health looked at the prevalence and symptoms of stress (Click here to read May newsletter). In June, our focus was on exploring ways to alleviate it (Click here to read June newsletter). Now let's look a little deeper, this time at some of life's biggest challenges - sudden or drastic changes that can be counted among life's greatest stressors.

Major life events can sometimes affect us profoundly. Negative ones, such as the death of a loved one, illness or a divorce, bring about inevitable increases in our stress levels. Some others that are generally viewed as positive, such as the birth of a baby, can also increase our stress.

If one of these events impacts your life, you may want to heed the following advice offered by experts.

Divorce

Death

Like all stress, the trauma of divorce can affect you physically, and can often result in decreases in immune function and significantly more illness.

Many people either lose their appetite or gain a lot of unwanted weight. There also can be extreme mental "fallout," with symptoms such as depression and anxiety in intensities ranging from moderate to extreme. You may have trouble remembering things or feel like you have no sense of purpose.

It may take up to two years to feel that you have gotten your life back, with the first six to eight months being the worst. Along with seeking professional help, one or more of the following may help you to cope:

Account for your losses: take time to acknowledge and assess the extent of the emotional damage that has been done.
Exercise your coping skills by using one that has worked for you in the past.
Take care of your self physically through good nutrition, exercise and getting enough sleep.
Do something new or change your routine.
Expect a few bad days. Remember that it may be far better to experience negative feelings than to act on them.

Although death is inevitable, the loss of someone you were close to is the most stressful of all experiences and can be felt for a long time. The acute phase of adjustment can last up to three years. Along with professional assistance, the following suggestions may help you to better cope with this devastating experience:

Accept your grief and realize that these feelings are normal. To avoid them takes a lot of energy - and it's more than likely they will come back anyway.
Allow yourself to mourn by giving yourself permission to grieve, which can intensify the expression of your feelings and reduce your sense of isolation. Many individuals can be helped through the grieving process by their religion.
Help others help you by being clear about what you want from them.
Enlist support through a support group.
Take care of yourself and find time to exercise.

Illness

A New Baby

Chronic illness, whether it's yours or one experienced by a member of your family or a friend, may mean accepting a lot of changes in your relationships at home and on the job. When illness is severe, the underlying fear of death can also be present.

Managing stress can be especially important when you're sick. There's a great deal of evidence to suggest that stress can affect the course of your illness - perhaps even having an impact on the body's ability to fight disease. Here are some ways that may help to minimize the stressfulness of illness:

Accept the fact that you're scared.
If the illness is your own, it may help to discuss your fears with your physician and/or a mental health professional.
Understand the illness. Learning what you can about it can greatly reduce your fear of the unknown.
Consider seeking out a support group.
Learn to relax. You may want to look into some of the techniques discussed in June's issue of Steps to Good Health.

While the birth of a baby is a joyous occasion, the changes and demands that accompany his or her arrival can prove stressful. Here's some insight:

Be aware that new mothers can experience "baby blues" and, in extreme cases, postpartum depression. Don't try to guess at what's normal and what's not. Seek help from a physician or other medical professional.
Expect changes to the family dynamic. All relationships may have to be adjusted to accommodate a new human being.
Don't fall prey to perfectionism.
Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Don't Forget Your EAP

For immediate help in coping with stress, Kellogg's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), through ValueOptions, may be the best place to start.

The program is offered at no cost to you and is completely confidential.

You can reach a counselor 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-800-997-4841.

The information contained in this newsletter is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. If you have any questions about managing your health and/or seeking medical care, please contact a medical professional.