Question

Choose a stressor you are experiencing. Is it positive or negative? Ambient or cultural? Chronic, acute or anticipatory? Do you experience physical symptoms or other effects? What changes can you make to help you cope

Answer 1

Stress may be defined as a state of emotional, physical or psychological distress. It is not necessary that stress needs to be seen in negative light only. Stress can be positive as well as negative. Positive stress is called eustress which causes some excitement and it’s within our capabilities to deal with it. For example marriage, buying a new car etc. On the contrary there is a type of stress which causes distress and coping with such negative stress is not within our ability. Such stress may have impact on our physical, psychological and social well being.
Stressor presently experienced is due to constant and long traffic jams while commuting to and fro from office daily. Stressor causes lot of distress and is viewed as a negative stress which effects psychological, physical and social well being. It is ambient stress caused due to external environmental factors, is chronic in nature. Though initially seemed acute, but with passage of time turns to be chronic causing negative impact on various dimensions including stamina, fatigue, personal and family relations, productivity at work, pain in body, less quality time for personal activities.

Though this stress seems part of regular life style up and downs, but it’s effect is gradual and chronic. On personal level various coping mechanism could be adopted. Waking an hour early in an day may bring some changes in lifestyle giving personal time to self activities, leaving a bit early for office to avoid rush hours, exercising. Taking control of things and avoid learned helplessness. Meditation and physical exercise may lead to improved efficiency, stamina and reduction in fatigue. Car pooling may help in talking with colleagues  on the way, social support and realistically dealing with the stressor that I am not alone in this journey. Last but not the least a determination that things can be coped up and realistic adaptability to the situation.