Vocabulary

to be affected – подвергаться воздействию

to meet deadline – успеть к установленному сроку

traffic jam – пробка на дороге

frantic pace – безумный ритм

physician - терапевт

stress-related illnesses – болезни, вызванные стрессом

obesity - ожирение

anxiety – тревога, беспокойство

heartburn - изжога

nausea - тошнота

susceptibility to colds – восприимчивость к простудам

pain reliever - болеутоляющее

handle life’s crises – справляться с жизненными кризисами

We’re affected by stressful situations every moment of life. Meeting deadlines, making decisions, traffic jams, marriage, divorce, getting a job, losing a job, any change in one’s life situation – pleasant or unpleasant – can lead to stress.

Stress has become an epidemic according to Dr. Paul J. Rosh, professor of medicine psychiatry at New York Medical College and president of the American Institute of Stress. The frantic pace of modern life, he reports, has brought us to the point where:

1. 90% of all adult Americans experience high levels of stress once or twice a week and one-fourth nearly every day.

2. 75% to 90% of visits to physicians are for stress-related illnesses and complaints.

Stress is known to be a major contributor to the leading causes of death in the USA: heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, accidental injuries and suicide. Stress often underlies obesity, alcoholism and drug abuse. And, of course, stress is a major factor in the painful headaches and backaches that afflict millions.

Scientists are learning that it’s not the amount of stress that leads to a sense of helplessness, anxiety or even full-blown depression. Rather, it is one’s inability to control stressful situations that causes the major damage. “The key to avoiding the harmful effects of stress,” says Rosh, “is learning how to distinguish between stress that you can’t avoid and stress that you can do something about, so that you can use your time and energy effectively”.

However, the damage is not only psychological. Stress manifests itself with a host of physical signs and symptoms, prominent among them: headache, neck pain, backache and muscle spasms; heartburn, stomach pain and nausea; unexplained allergy attacks, and susceptibility to colds and infections. Before attributing symptoms to stress, you should, of course, consult your physician. They may signal other underlying diseases. But if your headache or stomach pain are stress related, you can take an effective pain reliever. Exercise or an appropriate muscle relaxant may also help.

Keep in mind that stress has its good as well as its bad side. The famed father of stress research, Dr. Hans Selye, called it “the spice of life”. Falling in love, riding an ocean wave, seeing a great opera – all mobilize the same stress-inducing hormones as does great danger. Stanford University neurochemist Dr. Jack Barchas observes: “A certain amount of stress is positive and pleasurable. It leads to productivity in the human race”. In other words, stress enables you to meet deadlines, jump out of the way of a speeding car and handle life’s crises.

Express your opinion on how to handle stress. The following suggestions may help you. Begin with “I think the best way to avoid / to handle stress is to … / is not to …”

- remember that many stressful situations are under your control;

- manage your time properly. Establish appropriate goals and schedule your day. Set aside personal time for yourself on a regular basis – read, reflect, listen to music or just relax.

- strengthen relationships with others. Get involved in group activities or hobbies that provide pride of accomplishment.

- learn to say “no” when a request is unreasonable or can’t be accomplished in the allotted time.

- don’t waste your time and energy trying to influence things you can’t possibly change. Stress is unavoidable consequence of life.