When Stress Becomes Distress
BY Scale developed by Holmes and
GINGER SECRIST MYERS Rahe in the mid-60s, Bowen
Adams Co. Correspondent, ..-pointed out that stress can be posi-
GETTYSBURG (Adams) live or negative. You experience
We’re learning how to utilize stress at happy moments, such as
drought-damaged com and sorg- weddings, and at unhappy times,
hum. We’re weighing the use of such as with trouble with your in
altentative feedstuffs for our dairy laws. Bowen stated that stress is
cows and livestock. We’re even-, caused by individual factors. If
getting advise on business- someone confides they are having
management techniques that may problems with a situation that
help our farm businesses to sur- seems trivial to you, remember
vive. But, what do we do for the- that for that person the stress may
drought-stressed farmer and his be very real,
family? The body’s reaction to these
This question was addressed at a
recent meeting of the Gettysburg
area Young Farmers where the
guest speaker was Dr. Ray Bowen
of Psychological Associates in
Gettysburg. While there are more
smiles now in farm country since
the rains have been falling, only
last month many farm families
were experiencing the emotional
stress of anger and despair that
comes from watching a year’s
worth of work wither and die.
Farming can be a stressful occupa
uon. Bowne highlighted recogniz
ing when stress becomes distress
and ways to reduce that stress.
Bowen defined psycholocial
stress as, “What you have to adjust
to m a given period of time.” He
added that stress can be physical,
mental, or both. Using a Life Stress
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stressful experiences ties back to
our age-old instincts of “fight or
flight” when faced with many of
life’s events. “In seconds, we make
a judgement as to what kind of
stress we’re experiencing and we
appraise the threat. Our secondary
appraisal reaction then asks us
what are our resources for hand
ling this situation?”, explained
Bowen.
Bowen continued, ‘The prob
lem arises when the body and brain
are constantly bombarded with
perceived threatening situations,
and the person loses his ability to
prioritize which reaction to work
on and which to leave pass. This is
when stress becomes distress.”
Bowen listed several danger
signs that can signal when stress is
becoming distress. Some of these
include: general irritability, hyper
excitation, or depression, grinding
of the teeth, nightmares, accident
proneness, decreased or increased
appetite, increased smoking or use
of alcohol and drugs, and the ina
bility to concentrate, just to list a
few.
Citing research figures, Bowen
noted that 70 percent of all doctor
visits are due to symptoms brought
on by stress. While no acute illness
can be found, a diagnosis of “It’s
just your nerves”, should be taken
as seriously as any specific disease
would be taken.
Several personality types sus
ceptible to stress diseases are the
one-man band who tries to do too
many things simultaneously; the
chronic hurrier who is always
under a self-imposed deadline; the
exasperated person who can’t wait
in line; the combative challenger
who competes in everything he
does and has to be number one.
Many of these traits can be applied
to farmers as we compare crop
yields, our place on the DHIA list,
or our pay price from the dairy.
Several suggestions Bowen had
as means for reducing stress
included planning for down-time
or idle time every day. Bowen
stressed that this does not mean
merely physically resting, but also
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allowing your senses to take
charge so you can really “smell the
roses” or “see the sunset”
Another way to reduce stress is
to concentrate on one task at a time
so its accomplishment can be
enjoyed. Bowen stressed taking
the opportunity to pat yourself on
the back when a job is done to your
satisfaction before jumping into
another task.
Also, it was suggested that you
interact at least once a day with
someone who makes you laugh. It
need not only be a person, but also
could be a book, pet, or television
show that you enjoy. Other sug
gestions are finding time to your
self, getting more exercise, and
cultivating interest outside of agri
culture that provide you with per
sonal satisfaction.
Spencer Receives
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre)
Stephen B. Spencer, professor
of dairy science extension, was
recently named recipient of a Dis
tinguished Service Award from the
Pennsylvania Association of Dairy
Sanitarians and Dairy Laboratory
Analysis. The award was given in
recognition of his extension work
with milk quality.
Spencer also presented a paper
at the 83rd annual meeting of The
American Dairy Science Associa-
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 20, 1988-C7
Bowen concluded his presenta
tion with a thoughts worksheet
This worksheet asks you to
describe an unpleasant situation,
specify the emotions and degree of
emotions you have in that situa
tion, then list the automatic
thoughts that proceed those emo
tions. Such thoughts might be that
the situation is all your fault or that
some one is to blame for your pre
dicament Then the worksheet asks
you to list your rational responses
to those automatic thoughts and
challenge their validity.
Bowen stressed that if a person
could mentally put himself
through these steps when con
fronted with stressful situations, it
could help to refine his decision
making processes. This could help
people to live with the decisions
they have to make.
Award
tion, held June 26-29 at the Uni
versity of Alberta, Edmonton,
Canada. Titled “Recent Research
and Developments in Machine
Milking- A Review,” the paper
examined research on the link
between milking machines and
mastitis. It also reviewed new
technologies such as robotic milk
ing and in-bam computer systems
which monitor the herd’s daily
feed consumption and milk
production.