Stress Education Center - Dstress.com Newsletter
"Dedicated to serving by providing information, products, and services
to create awareness and then offer control of stress and the process of
change."
In this issue:
1. Introduction and Welcome
2. Article: Holiday Survival Tips 2001
3. Product of the Month: Stress Tapes
4. Stress Management Tip of the Month: Reconnect
5. Special Article: New Normalcy
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1. Introduction of the Stress Education Center's - Dstress.com Newsletter
Welcome to the November-December, 2001 issue of this monthly e-zine.
Our world is different, since September 11th. We are more stressed. We feel less control! We no longer have our innocence. Our feelings of safety and security are redefined.
The purpose in providing this newsletter is to offer information about stress and possible solutions to managing stress and change. Your input is encouraged. This will be a forum for answering questions/concerns, offering suggestions, motivating you and your clients to develop and practice a strategy of self-care that includes regular stress management.
The goal is to enhance your quality of life, increase your productivity, and
offer tested fun strategies that will give you more time and energy.
Please read the newsletter and provide feedback. This feedback will help to
shape the form and content for future editions. Thank you in advance for
your assistance in the development process.
L. John Mason, Ph.D.
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2. Article: Holiday Stress Survival Tips for 2001-2002
Things that you can do to create higher quality of life and enhance performance through the holidays.
This holiday season will be unique. People do not know exactly how to respond to the tragedies of September 11th. Our world is a different place now. Attitudes towards travel, being with family, celebration in the face of fear and sadness, will make this year's holiday season different than in years past. Our adjustments will help to create new ways of participating in the holiday events. These can be both positive and negative. Consider new traditions in self-care and for community support that will open your heart to the joys that are possible in this season.
Remember the things that are the most stressful are the things that you care the most about, but have the least control over. World events, the economy, the way people respond, and our families (and children) are major stressors that we wish we could control, but often can not.
- Schedule Time for Self-Care!
Regular exercise and time for stress management are a must. Find what techniques work best for you, and use these tools. This is non-negotiable time devoted for your health and well being.
- Eat Well
Moderation is the key. Do not use alcohol or drugs for stress management. Do not "over" celebrate. Avoid fast foods.
- Avoid Caffeine
Minimize the impact of caffeine on your life.
- Plan the Holiday... Set some limits
Do not over spend your financial and emotional resources.
- Control Your Expectations of:
Happiness, Joy, Sadness, and Loneliness
- Be Nice to Others
Give compliments and smile. Around negative, anxious, or rude people, take a breath and remember that you do not need to get pulled into other people's holiday craziness.
- Reach Out for Support
Talk with "stable" friends or family, or clergy, or mental health counselors.
- Humor Helps... Have Fun
Laugh daily, if possible.
- Stay in the Present!
Mentally and emotionally, do not be consumed by things that happened in the past or fear events in the future.
- Find the True Spirit of the Holidays
Share this those people who you love or care about.
Share these with your co-workers, your family, and your friends.
Along the way, do not forget to take good care of yourself!
Good Health!
L. John Mason, Ph.D.
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3. Products of the Month:
Stress Management taped exercises. These great gifts..... (Blatant promotion!)
Now more than ever, spend 20 minutes daily involved in stress management and deep relaxation. Make the time! Use the audio tapes listed on the "Tapes" page of my website or make your from the exercise written out in the article listed as the "advanced stress management technique" from the "Articles" pages of my website.
Please take good care of yourself!
Stress Management Certifications for Professionals
Important, but not for everyone!
We are putting together a special program to help train and support professionals who wish to offer stress and change management training and consulting. Requests have come from: consultants, trainers, speakers, coaches, therapists, teachers, HR Professionals, Clergy, Nurses, Hospice Trainers, even Dentists for a standardized training that develops knowledge, skills, and offers materials to trainers who want to offer effective professional programs in stress and change management.
The first group will be for counselors who work on North Sea oil rigs. This will be a two day training program in September, taking place in Phoenix, AZ. The formula will be modified for special groups like teachers, dentists, or people working in chronic pain clinics. The process involves a combination of exposure to information, demonstrations of techniques, personal experience, and demonstration of presentation skills.
More information and a list of specific techniques and tools to be covered will be available in the near future. If you are interested in this certification process, please contact Dr. John Mason through return e-mail or by telephone at (707) 795-2228.
Please view the tapes page for more information at http://www.dstress.com
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4. Stress Management Tip of the Month: Now needed more than ever before!
With the Holidaze upon us, make time to connect or re-connect with your friends and family.
We require special support from caring, friendly people and we
have to make time for these activities. Companies, organizations,
places of worship, social groups, schools, and governmental should consider
offering additional opportunities for people to connect and to offer care
and support to all participants. This is not the time to emotionally "circle the wagons" and the deal with our grief, fear, sadness, and anger, alone!
Go out of your way to reach out top others. Offer personal and sincere
compliments and offers of support. You will feel better, because you are
doing something positive. You may also be saving a life.
Do not forget your own self-care. Reduce your personal expectations
regarding your performance for the sake of your emotional and
spiritual well-being. But do not withdraw from your life and your friends.
Remember to breathe!
Distractions will surface, but gently return your mind's focus to the process of slowly breathing.... inhale then exhale. It does require practice and some discipline, but this will work for you.
Try this.
Try this. It can really work well for you.
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available to you in various formats. These serve as a powerful introduction to help you to develop awareness offer the techniques proven to be effective in the areas of Stress Management, Wellness, and Productivity.
