Stress

Stress from a Christian Perspective

Stress

“I have told you this so that through me you may have peace.  In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous-I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33 International Standard Version)  The word of God clearly tells us that we can expect to have stress in this world!  I believe there are many ways to deal with stress and drawing close to God is one of them. He says when we are feeling anxiety, which is a sign of stress that we are to:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 4:6-7 New International Version)

According to Hans Selye, one of the founding fathers of stress research, "stress is not always bad; it really depends on how one absorbs it.” He came up with the term “eustress” which is actually positive stress.  It is what one experiences when they are excited or exhilarated. So, not all stress is bad for you.

Everyone deals with stressors of life differently.  Personality types play a big role in determining how stress is handled.  People who have A type personalities react stronger to stressors and tend to have more sickness, like heart disease, than people who are more laid back and calm. 

Counseling is a superb way to help people identify what is stressing them out. It is important to identify where the stress is coming from. Sometimes just talking about it and processing through ones thoughts can help someone feel better and feel less stress.

Middle age is a time where financial worries, loneliness, family issues and medical problems can cause stress.  Defining what the source is and coming up with coping mechanisms can help reduce the stress.  A few recommendations for helping reduce or relieve stress are massage therapy, meditation, exercise, social involvement, volunteering and prayer.

Cognitive restructuring is also an important tool that counselors can use to help people rethink the way they think about things.  A lot of stress is simply brought on because of what or how people are thinking about certain situations.  If clients are open to learning new ways of thinking it is very possible that by doing so the stress will not be as debilitating. The National Mental Health Association (Factsheet, n.d.) states that not being realistic is one of the reasons why most people experience stress.  In our fast past society, slowing down and saying no can be a great way to reduce stress.

Jesus, is the ultimate teacher and he has the answers on how to deal with stress “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

References

Factsheet: Stress: Coping with Everyday Problems (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2008, from http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/stress/stress-coping-with-everyday-problems

Hans Selye. (2008, September 28). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 00:33, September 29, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hans_Selye&oldid=241501068

 

 

Author's Note

Written for a Human Development Graduate Class my first semester at Liberty University.