Dr. Tedd Mitchell, M.D., is a Contributing Editor to the weekly USA Weekend, an insert with the local Sunday newspaper.  In his column called HealthSmart, he suggests that the economic turmoil may cause a person to feel "out of control".  Lack of control at work, at home, and in a larger sense control of destiny, is the primary contributor to stress.  Mental stress gives way to fear and anxiety emotions which impact overall bodily health.

The problems that our nation and the world face at present affect each of us. Minimizing the stress depends on how one reacts.  The best way to counter the detrimental effects of stress is to analyze what aspects of our lives are in our power to control. Sounds like theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity prayer, paraphrased,
"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Focusing on healthy physical choices such as sufficient sleep and rest, healthy diet, and a regular exercise regimen add to our sense of self-empowerment and maintain a state of readiness for the unexpected. Substituting walking for driving and serving meals from our own kitchens as opposed to eating out are wise lifestyle alterations.

The spend, spend, spend to boost the economy message is counterintuitive as we sense that prudent financial discretions regarding our family budgets are in order and expect government to do no less.  A tendency to disassociate from the stressful problems of the nation is tempting.  An out of touch stance relinquishes control.  Remaining intellectually informed allows one to form an opinion and make decisions.

A hope grounded in faith can be strengthening.  Reaching out to another in acts of kindness reverses the focus and balances the perspective.  True is the rabbinical adage that the only thing one really possesses is what he/she gives away.  The thought that there is little we can do individually to influence events that impinge upon our lives is attitudinally deflating and inaccurate.  The power of collective action cannot be diminished.  One and one and one compounds exponentially to = a powerful reaction.

How do you deal with the challenge of stress control?  Please share your suggestions on this blog.