How Is It Helpful to Admit Stress Exists?

Stress is inescapable, especially in the presence of unexpected crises. While you may not choose stress, you choose your response. Overreacting with anger is a common reaction that can negatively impact your physical and emotional health. Migraine headaches, high blood pressure, and stomach problems can be caused by stress.

Children can be the source of immeasurable stress as they react to the pressures of life. Problem children cause stress for teachers because they interfere with the teaching plans for the class. Admitting to the existence of problems created by stress and accepting responsibility for solutions are steps for reducing stress.

Don’t be hesitant to talk with trusted family members and friends when pressures from stress begin building up. Listen to sound advice from professionals. Seek out fellowship with believers and ask for prayer. Believe that God is the source of your supply for help and intervention. 

Believe God cares for you and will send help.                     

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You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity.  

~Philippians 4:19-20 The Message

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What Causes Stress to Get Out of Bounds?

Stress is the product of a hurried, rushed lifestyle. My grandmother’s favorite quip for being stressed out was that she had “too many irons in the fire”. What she meant was that she needed a break from the stress and pressure she was experiencing. She realized it was her responsibility to make some needed changes.

Stress can produce impatience, irritability, even depression, when the pressures of life become overwhelming. Catching up at work or school may appear impossible when stress becomes intolerable. Whatever causes prolonged stress and anxiety, self-defeating thoughts and behaviors create even more stress.

A better strategy for stress management is to ask yourself, “Is what I’m doing honorable to God? If I am ‘God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which he prepared in advance’ for me to do, then I will focus on that promise.” 

Whatever God gives you to do, he will enable you to do it in a way that honors him.  

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May this God of peace prepare you to do every good thing he wants. May he work in us through Jesus Christ to do what is pleasing to him.

~Hebrews 13:21 God’s Word Translation

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Is Stress Management Worthwhile?

The cutting edge of stress is unavoidable, but it does not have to be overwhelming. Stress can be managed by taking immediate action when it is insignificant rather than waiting until it has gotten out of bounds. Highly stressful situations usually demand an immediate and intelligent response.

Some folks thrive on high levels of stress while others become overwhelmed if high stress levels must be tolerated for any significant time. One anti-stress technique is to periodically check what your expectations are of yourself to determine if they are in line with what others expect of you.

You do not have to be perfect to be acceptable, but you do have to be responsible for your choices. Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 offers these thoughts: “The end of a matter is better than the beginning and patience is better than pride. Keep your temper in control to prevent harboring a grudge.” Is it time to refocus, to have a reality check to see your situation from God’s perspective?

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So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on the things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
~2 Corinthians 4:18 New Living Translation 

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