An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 12 | by JILL DAVIS, OCCUPATIONAL SOCIAL WORKER, PSS, 2 BDE HQ H ow we cope with the impact of severe stress depends on many factors. these include our state of health, what else is going on at the time, our perception of the stressful event/s and our concern for how others may judge us. other factors such as feeling isolated or well sup- ported, how carefully we look after our basic daily needs and our understanding of what is happening in us must all be taken into consideration. In times of distress it is not only the mind that is affected, but the whole self – body, mind, spirit and emotions. this is particularly noticeable following expo- sure to deep shock or danger, whether current, anticipated, or remembered from the past. Responses to being under stress include an increase in heart rate, alteration in breathing patterns, sharpening of the senses and muscle tension, to name but a few. These and numer- ous other responses are triggered by the release of powerful hormones and over-stimulation of the body's nervous system, which may lead to a sense of being on constant 'red-alert'. This over-stimulation can lead to anxiety & agitation, which may present in the form of panic attacks. These panic attacks can be frightening and difficult to understand, especially if they appear to occur with no identifiable trigger. Life events and transitions, even positive ones, bring their own stress. It is easy to hold a stereotype of the person who might struggle following a stressful situation, but this is un- helpful and may lead to missing signs in self or others who do not fit this stereotype. Of equal importance to stressful events themselves, are the levels of inner and external resources available to each person when those events occur. Both are inextricably linked. There tends to be a pattern to signs and symptoms of stress which, when paid attention to, can provide valuable under- standing to what is happening. Knowledge is an important step on the journey towards restoring balance and regaining a sense of control. It is natural to want to fast-forward the return to feeling strong, but no formula can predict how long this will take. Learning to handle impatience and frustration can be important elements of a process which will involve dif- ferent elements for different people. Learning to wait with ourselves, as healing sets its own pace, can be a huge challenge. This is especially so for those who judge it a weakness to admit to struggling, or who measure their worth in terms of output or feeling strong and in control. Pressure 'to get back to normal', from within or from others, adds to the challenge. Listening and Waiting on the Journey

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