Read the following text written by a newspaper columnist which
talks about the causes of stress and some possible solutions. Pls find the words to be explained below the text.
Stress Management
I recently went to the doctor with an inexplicable stomach pain that had
persisted for several days. After a brief examination, he provided his
diagnosis: “It’s probably stress”. I have to admit that I was disappointed
with the verdict, as I was hoping that he would find a more concrete
cause that could be easily resolved with prescription drugs. Instead, I was
going to have to take a look at my life-style and try to make some
changes.
I began by reading some on-line articles about the causes of stress.
According to my research, the main sources of stress in adults are money
problems, job worries, relationships, and family problems. I do have a
demanding new boss, and I have recently had a slight disagreement with
a sibling, but I hadn’t really considered myself to be stressed about either
issue. When I think about it, I don’t really know anybody who doesn’t
suffer from at least one of the four major causes of stress. Does that
mean we are all stressed to a certain degree?
My reading seemed to confirm that this is indeed the case. We all have
problems that can make us feel stressed, but the difference is in how we
manage that stress. Apparently, some of us are better at taking charge of
our thoughts, feelings, schedule, and the way we deal with problems than
others. Some people are able to remain calm and in control, despite the
demands and pressures of everyday life. So how could I become one of
those people?
I went to talk to a life-style counsellor, who presented me with several
suggestions. Firstly, I could try to take control of my environment by
eliminating unnecessary stresses. Clearly, I wouldn’t be able to eradicate
my boss or my brother. However, I could avoid travelling in a crammed
train carriage every morning by getting up 10 minutes earlier and
catching a bus to work. I tried it for a few days, and surprisingly enough I
already felt a little more in control.
Secondly, I should try to adopt a healthier life-style. We all know that a
healthy diet and regular exercise make us thinner and fitter, but I wasn’t
aware that they could also help to eliminate stress. I decided to start with
some small changes, such as cutting out sweets and desserts, and taking
the stairs instead of the lift. Again, I immediately felt that these small
changes were making a positive difference.
Perhaps the most important advice of all was to learn to accept the things
that I couldn’t change. I started to think of my challenges as
opportunities for personal growth. Neither my boss nor my brother were
going to back down, so I had to learn to compromise. I would start to
expect less of people and accept that no one is perfect, least of all myself.
A couple of days ago, I met with my best friend Sandra and told her of
the changes I had made to try to conquer my stress. She thought about it
for a while before responding: “So, it now takes you longer to get to
work, you don’t allow yourself any treats, your boss and your brother are
still problematic; yet you feel less stressed?”. To be honest, as I hadn’t
really known that I was stressed in the first place, it was hard to compare
my stress levels with what they had been before. But one thing was for
sure; talking and laughing about it with Sandra made me feel far better
than any of my other actions. Maybe it’s OK to be stressed as long as
there is a friend to share it with.
