The post on Disaster Response got me thinking about stress. I recall somewhere about certain events having a certain number of "Life Crisis Units" attached to them. The concept was that as we experience events (good and bad) they take a toll on us. The accumulation of stressor events (even if they are positive) can have negative impact on us mentally and physically.
For example, Dr. T.H. Holmes of the University of Washington created what he calls the "Social Readjustment Rating Scale". He gives numerical values to many difference types of stressful situations. Check out this site for a list of these events and their respective "units".
Now, whether you believe in the numbers or not, I think we can all agree that events, good and bad, deplete our energy. We MUST replenish. We MUST regroup. We MUST break away from the pressure from time to time -- especially when we're in the business of helping people. How many of you have been in the middle of a perplexing situation and taken a walk, only to have the solution come to you when you weren't even thinking about the issue?
Awareness is have our success. Be aware of what we say "yes" to. If it takes a lot out of you, find the corresponding rest time. Too much involvement in stressors without the companion of refreshment can lead to burnout, fatigue, lack of perspective, and depression.
Incidentally, I Googled the word "stress". The result? 191,000,000 web sites!!
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