The Truth About Stress- Chikeitha's Insight
Stress
The Truth About Stress
Photograph from Unsplash
As women we wear so many hats including being mothers, raising kids to being wives and daughters. We are the mothers of the human race. God created us with strength in mind. Throughout stages of life, we experience so many challenges (trauma, sickness, bad relationships, abuse, etc..) Some of us never make an effort to reach out for help and continue in our own strength which is sometimes little to none. Many of life challenges and trials have led to us suffering from mental health issues but still with no diagnosis. Taking off the Mask of Stress-Related Mental Health is so important so we can start to shed light on the issue and start the healing process.
What is Stress?
According to The American Institute of Stress, the term stress was derived from Haans Selye in 1936, who defined it as "the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change." Through research that he completed on animals, he found that under continuous levels of stress the animals developed many diseases almost like those seen in humans. Some of the diseases the animals developed included heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. The term stress began to be seen in many different forms and used as even the physical symptoms one feels. It is so interesting as to how now we view stress as a situation or event and anxiety as the physical symptom that is the result of stress.
The Hats We Wear
While writing this article, I thought about so many hats that women wear first starting with myself. I thought about how I am a Mother to my children. I am a Nurse to my 4 year - old who has Type I Diabetes and have been one for the last 15 years because my 20 year - old was diagnosed when he was 5 years old. Recently, I attended the Type One Nation Summit for Type I Diabetes and I read something that referred to parents as being a part-time Pancreas, I thought wow a new name for the hat I'm already wearing. I am an unpaid Uber driver dropping everyone off and picking them up. I am an untipped Chef and Waitress and responsible for preparing meals so my family can eat.
I am an unpaid Uber driver dropping everyone off and picking them up
Oh yes, can't forget that I am also a teacher and counselor which is a job that never ends. No summer vacations for me on this one. I know that many of you reading this article may be wearing many of the same hats. Many of you may have a blended family, husband or even may be a single parent. With all of these titles comes responsibility. Unfortunately, there is no end in catering to the needs of the ones we love so dearly.
Unfortunately, there is no end in catering to the needs of the ones we love so dearly.
Outlets
Here are some of the things you can do to help you work through stressful situations in your life.
Get organized
Share responsibilities with your spouse and children (age appropriate)
Say "no" to stress provoking requests when your family is just being "EXTRA"
Get back to doing things you enjoy (walking, going to the gym,)
Schedule an appointment with a Licensed Professional Counselor if necessary
Schedule a monthly outing with your girlfriends
Prayer/Meditation
Follow up with all medical appointments (self-care)
I hope this article has been helpful to you so you can now move forward in learning to cope positively with your daily life stressors.
Written by: Chikeitha Owen, LPC
About the Author
Chikeitha Owens LPC is an established psychotherapist and entrepreneur devoted to transforming individual lives in the form of traditional therapy and speaking engagements. Chikeitha has worked with a variety of populations--including addicts in recovery, individual, and couples in crisis and children in foster care settings experiencing Trauma. She is also a Passionate Spiritual author and published her first book “Living Life for What It Is.” She is now working on her second project, “The Abundance Experience.” Follow Chikeitha here: Abundance of Hope Counseling and Speaking On Purpose