Restoring Balance: Learning how to beat stress benefits body and mind
Do you manage stress, or do you let stress manage you? Some people accept stress as an unavoidable part of life without considering how to respond more positively to stress and reduce its negative effects.
Karen Dannemiller knew that she needed to slow down, so she took a stress management class offered by the University of Michigan Preventive Cardiology Services. Like the majority of the people who take the class, Dannemiller wasn't a cardiology patient.
The class Dannemiller signed up for was taught by Sandra Finkel, M.P.H., manager, Stress Management Services and Cardiovascular Executive Health Program, who also provides individual stress management consultations. Finkel says that there is an epidemic of stress in this society, and people tend to minimize the effects of stress on their bodies, minds, and lives.
Finkel has more than 30 years of experience with meditation and relaxation techniques. The techniques she teaches include mindfulness meditation (awareness of the present moment), guided imagery (focusing your imagination on a positive experience), bodyscan (tuning into the various parts of the body), breathing techniques (diaphragmatic breathing), progressive muscle relaxation, and writing exercises to help her students increase their sense of control and calm.
Finkel also shows people how to take a fresh look at time management and how they make choices so they can let go of the things that are not adding to their lives. She says, "People feel better when they address their stress. They're happier and more productive. It has lots of positive side effects."
Dannemiller was able to put these practices to good use. During the six-week span of the class, she had a health scare and used the techniques to help her cope. Her new knowledge is continuing to make a positive difference in her life. She says, "I'm putting the class to work in my life right now, and it's working for me."
Tips for Restoring Balance
provided by Sandra Finkel, M.P.H.
1. Take restorative time for yourself each day. Even small amounts of time, just for you, can feel spacious.
2. Acknowledge what is outside of your control. Accepting what you can't control is less stressful than resisting it.
3. Claim your power of choice. Recognize your power to choose your thoughts, words and actions in every moment.
4. Savor more moments. Finding things to enjoy and appreciate in the moment can uplift you and relieve stress.
5. Invite support. If you tend to take on too much and feel overwhelmed, try inviting help.
Find out more about classes offered through Preventive Cardiology by visiting their web site or calling (734) 998-5679.
Reading List
How to Quit Smoking Without Gaining Weight (American Lung Association) by Bess H. Marcus, Jeffrey S. Hampl and Edwin B. Fisher
Kicking Butts: Quit Smoking and Take Charge of Your Health by The American Cancer Society
This article appeared in the Jun/July 2006 issue of the Women's Health Newsletter. Read the issue.
