Substance Abuse and Abuse Q 69
A nurse is teaching a stress-management program for a client. Which of the following beliefs will the nurse advocate as a method of coping with stressful life events?
A. Avoidance of stress is an important goal for living.
B. Control over one’s response to stress is possible.
C. Most people have no control over their level of stress.
D. Significant others are important to provide care and concern.
Correct Answer: B. Control over one’s response to stress is possible.
When learning to manage stress, it is helpful to believe that one has the ability to control one’s response to stress. You may not be able to completely eliminate stress from your life or even the biggest stressors, but there are areas where you can minimize it and get it to a manageable level. Any stress that you can cut out can minimize your overall stress load. For example, ending even one toxic relationship can help you more effectively deal with other stress you experience because you may feel less overwhelmed.
Option A: It is impossible to avoid stress, which is a normal experience. Stress is your body’s response to changes in your life. Because life involves constant change—ranging from everyday, routine changes like commuting from home to work to adapt to major life changes like marriage, divorce, or the death of a loved one—there is no avoiding stress.
Option C: Stress can come from many sources, which are known as “stressors.” Because our experience of what is considered “stressful” is created by our unique perceptions of what we encounter in life (based on our own mix of personality traits, available resources, and habitual thought patterns), a situation may be perceived as “stressful” by one person and merely “challenging” by someone else.
Option D: Stress can be positive and growth-enhancing as well as harmful. The belief that one has some control can minimize the stress response. Long-term healthy habits, like exercise or regular meditation, can help to promote resilience toward stressors if you make them a regular part of your life. Communication skills and other lifestyle skills can be helpful in managing stressors and changing how we feel from “overwhelmed” to “challenged” or even “stimulated.”