• image.alt
  • With Mayo Clinic oncologist

    Edward T. Creagan, M.D.

    read biography
Please read: Important 2013 cancer research update from Dr. Michael Camilleri

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now
  • Stress blog

  • May 22, 2012

    Narrow your options to reduce stress

    By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.

3 comments posted

An opportunity arose for me to participate at a recent medical meeting. I had a full plate and was not overjoyed, but nevertheless agreed to participate. I'm glad that I did. Let me share what I heard. Two leaders in the medical community spoke. They offered this practical advice:

Need more help?

If the stress in your life is more than you can cope with, get help right away.

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
    1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • Go to the nearest hospital or emergency room
  • Call your physician, health provider or clergy
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness
    www.nami.org
    1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
  • Eliminate low-priority commitments. When invited to participate in an event or group, wait 24 hours before agreeing. Think about whether you can afford to commit your time and energy. Is this obligation important to you or is it just something that would be nice to do?
  • Eliminate distractions. A distraction is anything that does not get you closer to your goal. Your goal might be financial or professional. Or it might relate to your health or a concern for others.

It's too easy to get off track, especially when you're bombarded with options and alternatives each day. Just go to the toothpaste section in your local store — the array of choices will give you a headache.

Learning to focus on what's important and filtering out the rest is an essential skill for reducing stress and achieving success.

Follow me on Twitter at @EdwardCreagan. Join the discussion at #Stress.

3 comments posted

blog index
  • July 10, 2012 5:56 a.m.

    1. I am a reformed (okay, reform-ING) pathological agreer... And can tell you that saying "no" is one of the most empowering behaviors I can do. The time-management / goal-focus effects are clear; but for me, the even bigger impact on my life is this temporary emotional confidence high I receive from turning something away. It's as if my brain says "Yeah! He respects me!" and then rewards me with the confidence/drive/focus to do 3 or 4 really productive tasks right in a row (one of which is usually to say no to another marginally valuable, would-be-deflating, commitment. It's a virtuous behavior that begets more of itself.) 2. Appreciated the toothpaste analogy... I was talking to a friend who was recently engaged, now married, about choosing a mate and said something to the effect of "Congrats, Jeff! I can't even choose a consistent deodorant brand!" Consumer marketing...

    - Christopher

  • May 31, 2012 5:00 p.m.

    I wish you had added more information to your article. Stress is one thing and suicidal thoughts are a whole other animal. Do you know how many mental ill , suicidal people get turned away from emergency rooms? I think you need a title. What to do when, you are pressed to the limit? How stress can make you ill?

    - Mark

  • May 29, 2012 2:17 p.m.

    I laugh when I recall how I handled this. When I'd get an invitation, I'd apologize and say my calendar was full even though it was a "little white lie". I was afraid to say, "No."

    - Roberta

Post a comment
  • Print
  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger