some are not. Some are postponable, and that works too. The
thing is that we can in fact deal with a huge amount of stress.
However, there is an upper limit to how much stress we can
handle at any given time. When this threshold level of stress
is exceeded, our ability to deal with everything is diminished.
I coined the phrase "the threshold of dysfunction"
to connote this phenomenon. Up to this threshold we are wheeling
and dealing. We are handling everything just fine. When this
threshold is crossed, our functioning collapses like a house
of cards. We can't seem to deal with anything nearly as well
as we were a moment ago, before the threshold had been crossed.
I suppose this could also be called "the threshold of
overwhelm"? But the disadvantage of this terminology
is that we then have to distinguish between feeling overwhelmed
and being so overwhelmed that we become dysfunctional. So
I will stick with my original terminology.
Most people seeking help with stress management are looking
for ways to deal with higher levels of stress more effectively.
This is a noble quest, but, in my view, not very practical.
The thing is that once we have crossed that threshold, we
are not functional enough to do the various things that would
make us able to manage more stress more effectively. If we
are going to do this kind of "stress management",
we need to do it proactively, in advance of crossing the threshold
of dysfunction.
There are of-course a number of ways that we could increase
our ability to handle higher levels of stress. These include
rest, exercise, diet, organization, support systems, meditation,
a healthy integrated mind, etc. The list is probably much
longer, but you get the idea. These are all wonderful concepts,
but my observation is that for any one of us to do better
with any one of these is a struggle and by no means a quick
fix.
On the other hand if we are not healthy in mind, body and
spirit or if for any reason we become less healthy it automatically
lowers the threshold at which we become dysfunctional. So
it behooves us to pay attention to all aspects of our health
and keep it as good as possible at all times. Of-course, with
PTSD, our threshold was lowered a long time ago and we have
already eliminated a lot of sources of stress from our lives
one way and another. Any movement toward recovering from our
PTSD will automatically raise our threshold.
To restate my original point, the best and only quick way
to manage stress is to get rid of some of our stressors. It
is a valuable talent to know when and how to do this in the
most graceful manner possible. The longer-term challenge is
to build up our capacity to handle stress by increasing our
physical, mental and spiritual health.
Desired Outcome:
To gain a better understanding of how stressors impact us,
where our threshold is, what pushes us over the top, how to
eliminate some of our stressors before that happens and how
to eliminate them gracefully, and how to recover when our
house of cards has collapsed.
Discussion Starters:
When have I crossed the threshold of dysfunction and what
happened then? Which of my stressors past or present are optional,
which are postponable and which are neither? How have I in
the past and how can I in the future recover myself when I
have fallen? What do I plan to do to build my stress handing
abilities?
John C Flanagan, LCSW
818 NW 17th Avenue, Suite 7
Portland, OR 97209-2327
503-228-7574
www.johncflanaganlcsw.com
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