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Meet SFC Boe, a therapeutic stress dog who served in Iraq
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April
has hosted Stress Awareness Month since 1992. Sponsored by The Health Resource
Network (HRN), its purpose is to educate citizens about causes and effects of
stress as well as cures. Discussions, public forums and a variety of community
events create a platform for people from all walks of life to share and learn.
Who
Suffers from Stress?
Stress
does not discriminate between age groups or social status. In the United
States, it affects millions every year. Caregivers and senior citizens are
candidates along with soldiers, students, and executives.
How
Caregivers can Spot Signs of Stress
Caregivers
often have to read between the lines to detect problems with the ones they care
for. Signs of stress exhibited by the elderly include:
·
Lack
of concentration.
·
Listlessness.
·
Problems
sleeping.
·
Mood
swings (crankiness, sadness).
·
Sudden
change in eating habits.
Stress
Management Tips
Exercise:
Manage
stress with exercise. It causes the brain to release endorphins that create a
positive feeling. Caregivers can loosen stiff muscles by standing and
stretching every hour or so and by swinging their legs when seated at a table
or desk.
Keep
upper and lower body muscles active with easy-to-do exercises for seniors
confined to a chair or encountering difficulty with balance:
·
Tap
the toes of the right foot twice. Then tap the toes on the left foot. Repeat
five times.
·
Roll
the shoulders backwards three or more times.
Activities:
Focus
on daily positive events like good weather and plans that go right. Encourage
the person you care for to visit with friends. Even sharing a post or eCard on
social media brings positive communication and happiness to relieve stress.
Stress is a killer that finds easy victims when we fail to recognize the warning that we need a mental or physical break.
My blog is the best weapon I have for fighting stress. What are some of the things that help you, your family, and friends?
I eat when I'm stressed and I have been stressed out a lot lately unfortunately. I need to get it under control.
ReplyDeleteStress is a difficult thing to see as everyone handles it differently, but I agree it is important to manage it and find ways to cope with it.
ReplyDeleteI always keep a furry pet in the house - that;s my biggest stress buster. Even when they are at the vet, the house feels different.
ReplyDeleteOne of my best weapons for fighting stress is my family. There's nothing like a good family movie night to ease the tension of the week.
ReplyDeleteI find that getting into the Word helps me get rid of stress. My faith is very important to me, and being in it is a great help.
ReplyDeleteStress seems to have so many negative effects. I do find that when I have a regular exercise schedule my stress goes way down.
ReplyDeleteStress has so many negative effects on people. I find that having some quiet time - even just 5 minutes a day helps me to center myself. I like looking at things in pieces rather than the whole - helps me to be less stressed.
ReplyDeleteWe are all definitely affected by stress at some time or another! It can be really harmful to our health if we don't figure out what helps us get it under control. I like taking walks to help my stress.
ReplyDeleteStress can happen to many . Getting outside when possibkle is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI bite my nails when I'm stressed - even if I recently had a manicure. I hate it and it's gross. I need to find better ways to cope.
ReplyDeleteI definitely felt better last week when I hit the gym. I feel off for a few days, but I hope to get back on track.
ReplyDeleteI like to have a nice long hot bath when i am stressed. Exercise is a great stress reliever as well.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeletethe gym does it for me. I'm all about a good workout. Thanks for the info
Stress is a serious problem in this country. Do you know that modern indigenous people have no idea what stress is because of the simplistic lives they live? We have to all learn to stop worrying about jobs, bills and even turn off the news and do some positive relaxing things to destress!
ReplyDeleteI am a caregiver to an adult family member, pretty much lifelong and it is certainly stressful and exhausting!
ReplyDelete