Rodale Report

This article is from Stress Remedies, Rodale Books, 1997. It appeared in The Rodale Report, a collection of Rodale articles sent to 30,000 advertisers and prospects six times per year. Nancy chose and edited material for The Rodale Report from 1996 to 2000.

Problem Solving: If It's Broken, Fix It

One of the easiest ways to deal with stress is to pretend it doesn't exist. There's a catch:

Our minds may push problems aside, but our bodies don't. They rev up to react with rapid, shallow breathing, quickened pulse, and elevated blood pressure. Constantly simmering in this red-alert mode can set the stage for serious health problems. Solution? Face problems head-on by getting into the right frame of mind. These tips will help shape your attitude for calm, objective reasoning.

• Keep things in perspective. Recognize a problem for what it is: a situation that needs to be worked through and resolved, not a catastrophe, an assault, or a conspiracy against you.
  
  
• Think positive. Stuff happens. That doesn't make you a failure; that makes you human. Welcome problems as challenges, opportunities for growth and gain, rather than as threats to your well-being. Expect to find a solution, and you will.
  
  
• Talk to yourself--nicely. What is that little voice inside saying? If it has a tendency to be critical of you, practice replacing those negative messages with positive ones.
  
  
• Learn good timing. Don't try to solve a problem when you're stressed out, as your tendency will be to avoid dealing with it. "If you're preoccupied with bad feelings, you can't think clearly," says Timothy R. Elliott, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alabama. "A positive mood facilitates good problem solving."
  
  
• Calm down. If stress has you in its grip, defuse it by practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, imagery, and meditation. Wait until you've regained your composure, then use your problem-solving skills to address the situation.