Ways to reduce my stress while looking for work?

by Jolie
(Augusta, GA)

I've been unemployed for awhile now, and the stress of that is starting to get the best of me. Can you tell me some ways to reduce my stress while looking for work? Thank you.


Thank you for the question, Jolie. It is an important one for so many. I'm sorry that things are so tough right now, and yes, I will offer you some suggestions for ways to reduce your stress while you continue looking for work - which I hope isn't for much longer.

Firstly, it's important to share how the stress response is being triggered. Once you understand the basic physiology it will then make more sense why I will be making the suggestions that are to follow.

The stress response, or the fight or flight response, is activated when the brain senses any real or perceived threats to your physical or emotional survival. It is predominantly being triggered by mental stressors, or threats of uncertainty. So, in this particular case, the threat of not finding a job, not having enough money, losing your home, etc. It makes total sense why you are feeling as if stress is beginning to get the best of you.

Having said that, the goal of any stress management strategy is to find realistic ways to routinely activate the relaxation response. That is what will bring your body back into balance - reduce your stress.

So, for the sake of this short segment, here are three suggestions for you:
1. Become more aware of what you are thinking about and try to practice staying present to what is "real" right now vs. what might happen in the future.

2. Do more slow, deep breathing - starting from your abdomen - alot during the day. When done properly, this will activate the relaxation response and create a greater capacity for you to handle all that is one your plate right now.

3. Come up with a short mantra, prayer, or neutral thought, i.e. the bird is singing. Say them repeatedly throughout the day, but especially as you are doing your breath work.

I hope that provides you some comfort. Take good care.
Cathi

Click here to post comments.

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Stress in the workplace
.




Looking for a specific topic?
Search for it here:

site search by freefind advanced


Stress Tip Of The Day!

Throughout each day, the primary cause of stress is because of threats of uncertainty.

It is thoughts of fear and worry that are triggering the stress response.

Staying focused on maintaining a positive attitude is an important stress technique.



- FREE -
Control My Stress
stress management tools!


control my stress logo

Testimonials

“Ms. Churchill is the unique health care worker everyone hopes to encounter, but rarely does. She has an extraordinary gift that allows her to do much more than diagnose and treat.”
Abbie K. – Minneapolis




K., age 45, is a long term chronically PTSD disabled patient. She has had daily headaches for 20 years. Two weeks ago she reported that she had had 4 days of pain free time, and was having the exceedingly odd sensation of "smiling all the time". She and Cathi have made extraordinary fast progress together.
Dr. Cole




I referred C.L., age mid-forties, to see Cathi after a life of suffering the post traumatic stress disorder of parental sexual abuse over many years of her childhood, with major dysfunctions of alcohol and drug abuse, and with the disabling symptoms of migraine that have for more than twenty years become chronic.

She has lived with daily headaches that have not responded to any of the several drugs which have benefited many such suffering patients. She has needed chronic opiate treatment of her chronic pain syndrome.

In the few weeks that Cathi has worked with her, C.L. has begun to experience days without pain, periods of happiness, and a reduction in her opiate dosage requirements that represent a breakthrough in her stalled-out life as a single mom raising a teen-age daughter with only social security income resources.
Dr. Racer








“I first met Cathi Churchill eight years ago when she effectively helped my work unit through the stress of a hospital-wide layoff. I was impressed with her clear-minded approach and willingness to listen.”
Andy R.




N., age 60, is a hard driving attorney twenty year patient of mine who hit the wall with chronic fatigue four years ago, and began to realize she had to learn to rest. She recovered enough to return to her workaholic lifestyle when she was stopped by a herniated cervical disc and resumption of her chronic colitis.

Working with Cathi, she is discovering "the way she does life" and learning to make choices about it. She came in last week, having "danced until dawn". She is learning to dialogue with her body in effective ways.
Dr. Cole




“I stumbled upon Cathi after my recent heart attack that was brought on by stress. I was scared of having another one, and didn’t know what to do. I had lost hope. Working with her has changed my life. I’m so grateful."
Debbie – Canada




M.S., a woman in her late forties with progressively more and more disabling rheumatoid arthritis since childhood, whose most recent problems have arisen over the last two to three years as complications of immunosuppressive therapy for her disease. The complications have been associated with the severely disabling chronic pain of recurrent herpes neuralgia for more than three years, and for the past 15 months, recurrent osteomyelitis in her right lower mandible.

The second, more alarming (even life-threatening) problem has caused months of diagnostic and therapy confusion among her many consultants, three successive resections of the bone over the last six to eight months, and the still ongoing threat of more relapses of the smoldering bone infection and chronic pain only made bearable by chronic, massive doses of opiates.

In the few months since M. began to work with Cathi with several modalities: stress management, therapeutic touch, guided imaging, and others, her life has become more livable, as she has become able to bear the pain and the discouragement of unresolved disease.

She has relied on many of the methods for maintaining hope and getting through overwhelming discouragement by using the inner resources she has learned with Cathi.

My hope as her primary physician, is that Cathi and M. will be able to continue to work together to maintain that inner strength and hope as she faces yet more months of pain, and further repeated surgery.

Thank you for the healing guidance you've been able to give her thus far.
Dr. Racer




“I sought out the help of Cathi during my divorce, and found her to be an insightful and compassionate coach. Her ability to see deep into the heart of an emotionally stressful problem is, I believe, unique and I would highly recommend her service to anyone.”
P.R. – Brooklyn Center




S., age 48, is a Laotian patient of mine with 15 years of chronic abdominal pain. She has had an extensive medical worked up, and nothing ever worked. Cathi saw her over several months.

S. has improved! Cathi established a trusting relationship with her, and helped her to effectively break through her wall of silence and grief about her son's mental illness, and taught her how to "change her thinking".

S. now comes in smiling, notes some unusual continued symptoms, but no longer has chronic abdominal disabling pain.
Dr. Cole




“Control My Stress is so amazing. I want to thank you, again, for such a valuable resource.”
Tony.


coping with stress logo