Dr LeCrone
03-30-2006, 09:34 AM
Last week I talked about how stress is thought to be related to many physical ailments, including headaches, respiratory problems, cardiovascular problems, gastrointestinal difficulties and other medical disorders.
Never to have experienced a stress-related medical problem at some time is extremely rare. Medical authorities estimate that approximately 75 percent of all visits to the doctor are caused partly by stress.
In my column last week, I talked about the use of relaxation and tension-reducing techniques to help with stress. This week I want readers to consider another approach, that of working with the approximately five inches of material between our ears that is otherwise known as our brain.
It is our perception of the environment that causes stress, rather than the environment itself. We frequently can reduce stress by simply reframing our thoughts. Many individuals spend a great deal of time in illogical, irrational thinking. This problematic thinking often results from the too many “shoulds” and “oughts” in our vocabulary.
People write their own prescription for self-defeat by having an inordinate need for approval and the belief they should please everyone all the time, which is impossible. They set up goals for themselves that include the belief they should be loved by everyone and are “people-pleasers.”
The least sign of displeasure from others causes them to feel inadequate and assume they are the ones who have the problems. Feelings of inadequacy develop. Then the “people-pleasers” go through much of their life under stress because of this faulty belief system.
Other irrational thoughts that can produce negative emotions and stressful reactions, including physiological arousal, include:
• The belief that we must be completely competent and perfect in all our activities.
• The belief that problems and our own misery usually are externally caused; that we have no control over our feelings or over the events and people around us.
• The belief that we should feel tense, anxious or fearful about uncertain or unknown events in our lives.
It is difficult for most of us to be truly objective about our behavior. The so-called Charlie Brown Syndrome sometimes develops. The assumption that things are not going to turn out right for us becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Perfectionistic thinking, or trying to be all things to all people, puts individuals under a great deal of stress. Reorienting these thought patterns often is the beginning of a more stress-resistant lifestyle. Developing a healthier outlook by reorienting expectations of ourselves is not selfish. It involves being more realistic about setting reasonable goals for ourselves based on more objective, realistic outlook on life.
The first step in reducing stress is to recognize the mind-body connection. Then look for ways to make these two components work together in a healthy manner.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1987
Never to have experienced a stress-related medical problem at some time is extremely rare. Medical authorities estimate that approximately 75 percent of all visits to the doctor are caused partly by stress.
In my column last week, I talked about the use of relaxation and tension-reducing techniques to help with stress. This week I want readers to consider another approach, that of working with the approximately five inches of material between our ears that is otherwise known as our brain.
It is our perception of the environment that causes stress, rather than the environment itself. We frequently can reduce stress by simply reframing our thoughts. Many individuals spend a great deal of time in illogical, irrational thinking. This problematic thinking often results from the too many “shoulds” and “oughts” in our vocabulary.
People write their own prescription for self-defeat by having an inordinate need for approval and the belief they should please everyone all the time, which is impossible. They set up goals for themselves that include the belief they should be loved by everyone and are “people-pleasers.”
The least sign of displeasure from others causes them to feel inadequate and assume they are the ones who have the problems. Feelings of inadequacy develop. Then the “people-pleasers” go through much of their life under stress because of this faulty belief system.
Other irrational thoughts that can produce negative emotions and stressful reactions, including physiological arousal, include:
• The belief that we must be completely competent and perfect in all our activities.
• The belief that problems and our own misery usually are externally caused; that we have no control over our feelings or over the events and people around us.
• The belief that we should feel tense, anxious or fearful about uncertain or unknown events in our lives.
It is difficult for most of us to be truly objective about our behavior. The so-called Charlie Brown Syndrome sometimes develops. The assumption that things are not going to turn out right for us becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Perfectionistic thinking, or trying to be all things to all people, puts individuals under a great deal of stress. Reorienting these thought patterns often is the beginning of a more stress-resistant lifestyle. Developing a healthier outlook by reorienting expectations of ourselves is not selfish. It involves being more realistic about setting reasonable goals for ourselves based on more objective, realistic outlook on life.
The first step in reducing stress is to recognize the mind-body connection. Then look for ways to make these two components work together in a healthy manner.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1987