SHORT HEALTH TALK DELIVERED AT JUBILEE CHRISTIAN CHURCH INT, DURHAM, NC BY ELIZABETH ADEROJU, MD. FACP ON

SHORT HEALTH TALK DELIVERED AT JUBILEE CHRISTIAN CHURCH INT, DURHAM, NC BY ELIZABETH ADEROJU, MD. FACP ON SUNDAY MAY 15, 2016

What is Stress?
Normal psychological and physical reaction to increasing demands of life
Brain helps the body respond to stress by releasing hormones that guide our response to perceived stress
Stress can be good (eustress) or bad (distress)– depending on our reaction to and duration of the stressor
Statistics…..
Women and men react to and manage stress differently
Women are more likely than men to admit that they are stressed
Women are more likely to have physical & emotional symptoms to stress
Married women report higher levels of stress (33%) compared to singles (22%)
“10 ways stress affects health”- huffington post 2/6/2013 (a) Increased risk of stroke/heart disease (b)Irregular menstrual periods (c) Acne (d) Hair loss (e)Digestive issues (f)Depression/anxiety (g) Sleep problems (h) Weight changes (gain/loss) (i) Impaired fertility (j) Decreased sex drive

Other physical/emotional symptoms of stress (a) Headaches (b) Irritability (c) Nervousness/anxiety (d) Depression (e) Feeling of wanting to cry (f) Muscle tension/body pain (g) Fatigue (h) Lack of interest/motivation (i)Difficulty (j) focusing/concentrating

Practical steps to stress management…….
(a) Be proactive: define your stressor, your reactions(good/bad)
(b) Feeling overwhelmed, deadlines: get organized, prioritize, to do lists, set limits, don’t procrastinate
(c) Relationships: be flexible, compromise, pick your battles
(d) Physical activity: exercise
(e) Positive thinking & self talk: reframe the issue (God has a purpose for this, I got this!, what am I to learn from this
(f) Talk therapy (g) Sleep, eat right, volunteer
(h) Relaxation techniques-laughter, breathing exercises, sleep, vacation, hobbies, worship, praise, massage
How can I manage stress?
PRAYER:
phil 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
MEDITATION:
Matt 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Ps 4:8
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.
PRAISE;
takes the focus off yourself and the problem and on to God

Relaxation Breathing…….
The 4-7-8 (or Relaxing Breath) Exercise
Place the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth
Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of 4.
Hold your breath for a count of 7.
Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of 8.
This is one breath. Repeat this cycle 4-7-8

References…
www.americanpsycholgicalassociation.org
Gender and stress
www.about.com- Christianity/stress
www.womenshealth.gov
stress and your health
NIV bible translation
www.mayoclinic.com
Webmd.com
Duke PAS/stress
CDC.gov
Google images/stress management