LRH Offering Free Stress Screenings, Stress Management Therapies
It seems most of us get caught in a whirlwind of activities and responsibilities with work, home, children or grandchildren, and the amount of stress we experience builds, causing a host of negative consequences. According to the American Psychological Association, stress can affect your body, thoughts and feelings, and behavior. Left unchecked, stress can contribute to health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) is hoping to decrease the amount of stress people in Dickinson County experience through their stress management therapies. LRH Occupational Therapist Kathy Campbell, who came to LRH in October 2010 after 15 years within the Mayo Health System, provides traditional occupational therapy services but also specializes in stress management. She said, “There are so many things we can do to improve our functioning in everyday life. This goal is what occupational therapy is all about, such as helping people regain lost physical functions after an illness or injury through exercises and the use of adaptive equipment. But there’s also another side to occupational therapy – helping to reduce the chronic effects of stress on a person’s ability to function day to day to the best of their ability. That’s where I can add even more to improving the lives of my patients.”
To help people get a jump on managing their stress, LRH is offering free stress screenings April 4-8 from 11:30 am until noon. Campbell said, “They’ll be done over the phone and will only take about five minutes. All you need to do is call 336-8651 between 11:30 and noon. It’ll be a great thing anyone can benefit from, but particularly people who have heart health concerns.” Campbell will ask a few key questions that can quickly assess a person’s level of stress and their ability to manage it.
Stress management therapies provided at LRH help people better manage a work/life balance and better cope and manage life’s difficulties. For example, Campbell teaches her patients how to do relaxed breathing to release muscle tension and lower blood pressure and suggests ways to rearrange household items and furniture to conserve energy and make efficient use of time. She said, “I focus on helping people to cope with stressful situations or environments that can cause stress. I make sure they become equipped with the tools they need to manage their stress on their own for the long run, which will lead to a happier, more productive life.”
Common Effects of Stress
…On your body
Headache
Muscle tension or pain
Chest pain
Fatigue
Change in sex drive
Stomach upset
...On your mood
Anxiety
Restlessness
Lack of motivation or focus
Irritability or anger
Sadness or depression
...On your behavior
Overeating or undereating
Angry outbursts
Drug or alcohol abuse
Tobacco use
Social withdrawal
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