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NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO STRESS
The experts tell us that way to many people suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. We tend to be plagued with constant worry, insomnia, fatigue. North American women are twice as likely to develop the disorder then men. Heart disease not breast cancer is the greatest threat to females. It is not genetics or hormonal vulnerabilities but rather cultural factors that matter.
Women often do double duty holding down a full time career along with nurturing their children/husband taking care of most of the household duties. Many working women are squeezed into the generational sandwich dilemma of taking care of their older parents and children at the same time.
In London we live in a culture that is constantly feeding us stress-producing messages. Twenty-four- a day the radio/television/newspapers are filled with mostly negative information. Another young Canadian soldier killed by a road side device, drive bye shootings in Toronto or the threat of a looming recession. Hear all about it - if it bleeds it leads is the mantra of the media.
E-mails, beepers, cell phones and BlackBerrys intrude on our daily lives with the constant reminder to work harder, more efficiently and faster to make the grade in our competitive world. Success is often equated to driving the latest SUV or dining out at a very expensive restaurant.
Multitasking is the norm with too few hours in the day to accomplish what is on our plate of must do.
Taking the time to enjoy our families along with a some free time to simply smell the flowers and veg out is hard to accomplish.Psychologist, Wane Scotile describes the symptoms of fright or flight as the "hurry sickness."
In my private practice I see far too many youngsters/parents who are stressed out. They try and juggle too many tasks at the same time. We are a long way from the musical refrain: we work eight hours, we sleep eight hours which leaves eight hours for fun.
Many are perfectionists who demand a very impossible high standard for themselves and others. They are workaholic, highly competitive individuals who are also big time procrastinators. Not wanting to face the deadlines they try and put things off till a later date.
You can't be always wired every hour of the day without some dire affects. Our fast paced lifestyles puts enormous pressure on the family. Many of our eligible young adults are afraid of the dreaded word commitment. Taking the time for a significant person can take away from your quest for a successful career.
Approximately 50% of our marriage end in divorce with multiple second and third tries at the marriage-go-round not successful.
From an early age we are taught to look ahead and be goal-orientated and plan for the future. We tend to focus on to-morrow which can have negative implications on our health/well being today. Projecting our present difficulties into the future is a recipe for a very unhappy life.
Worrying too much can be deadly. It lowers our immune system and can cause heart disease, stroke, cancer and a long list of other physical and mental illnesses.
None of us is immune to the travails of our world. Here are some suggestions to cope. Don't listen/watch the news first thing in the morning or when you are going to bed. Turn off your cell phone/BlackBerry after business hours. On the weekend try and forget about your job; guaranteed the work will be there when you return.
My uncle Mickey Lester who was a well know radio personality in Toronto used to end his show with this advice: 'take it easy my friendly, you will last a whole lot longer and finish a whole lot stronger.'
Len Lesser