Alice’s Book Club – AUTUMN session of 2021

     Special edition – live session with Dr. John S. & M. Saber
     ~ exclusively for ALICE & Friends Circle™ ~

On Thursday (November 4, 2021) I was very happy to be able to organize the autumnal edition of my seasonal book club series, which is also the last session of the current year, and the topic discussed was covering stress & mental health. 

Aside of that, given the lingering shadow of a prolonged austerity in public communities and in order to avoid any unnecessary stress, I’ve decided to continue with the on-line option for my cultural events.

At this gathering, I had 2 special guest speakers – Dr. John S. & M. Saber, who professionally covered the chosen theme from a medical perspective.

As usual, ahead of time, I gave my book club participants 2 concise reading materials (first called, ”The Stress”, published by ”Cleveland Clinic”, USA, and the second one, called, ”Fundamentals of Mental Health”, published by ”US Department of Health & Human Services” – Washington, D.C.) conjugated with few audio links – all contributing to the conversation of the evening.  

The guest speakers of the evening delivered very interesting presentations, backed up with lots of valuable scientific points, including ample explanations and illustrations (all picked from the encountered casuistry incorporated into professional studies and from reference medical manuals), as well as practical tips.  

For your convenience, below I will share only few main concepts while respecting the confidentiality of the personal aspects discussed, as well as several highlights extracted from consecrated professional studies on these matters.

About STRESS:

- It has been reminded that stress is a normal reaction the body has when different changes occur, resulting in physical, emotional and intellectual responses

- Few categories of stress were mentioned, and these are: the acute stress (manifesting in small doses), the episodic acute stress (which is more frequent in people’s lives) and the chronic stress (which is the one that becomes permanent); it is important for each person to be able to identify which one is affecting his or her life

- Effective stress management techniques are available, provided by well-established medical institutions, and could help everyone deal with stressful situations in a healthy manner

- A certain amount of stress actually could be positive, keeping people alert, motivated and ready to avoid danger, but it becomes a real problem when stress factors continue to exist without any periods of relaxation

- Stress in itself is subjective and only the person experiencing it could say whether it is present and how severe it feels

- According to published medical studies, physical symptoms of stress include: aches and pains; chest pain or a feeling like your heart is racing; exhaustion or trouble sleeping; headaches, dizziness or shakiness; high blood pressure; muscle tension or jaw clenching; stomach or digestive problems; trouble having a balanced life; weak immune system

-  As stated by many doctors, prolonged stress could lead to emotional & mental symptoms, like: anxiety or irritability; depression; panic attacks; chronic sadness

- Here are few simple, effective and very well-known strategies you could use to relief stress, freely shared by many doctors, therapists, coaches, teachers, trainers: laugh, dance or exercise when you feel the symptoms of stress coming on (at times, even a short walk could boost your mood); at the end of each day, take a moment to reiterate what you have accomplished (without emphasizing the things you didn’t get the chance to do yet); set goals for your day, week, month (writing them on a piece of paper and narrowing them will help you feel more in control of your time and agenda)

- We all know that it is much better to prevent rather than treat a condition, so here are few tips that may help you prevent stress, as distributed by specialists: try relaxation activities (such as praying, meditation, breathing practice, muscle relaxation, etc.); take good care of your body on a daily basis (by eating right, exercising and getting enough sleep); stay positive by practicing gratitude (acknowledge the good aspect/s in your day or life); accept that you can’t control everything and find ways to let go of worries about situations you can’t change; learn to say “no” to additional responsibilities when you are already too busy or too stressed; stay connected with people who keep you calm, make you happy and provide the emotional support you need (a family member, a friend or a neighbour could always be a good listener so your stress level won’t become alarming), but if you feel overwhelmed, you need to talk to your doctor.

About mental health:

- Untreated stress could lead to mental health problems and disorders

- According to reputable medical studies, early warning signs of mental issues include: eating or sleeping too much or too little; having low or no energy at all; feeling numb or like nothing matters any longer; feeling helpless or hopeless; feeling often confused, forgetful, angry, upset, worried, or scared; yelling and fighting with family and friends; experiencing severe mood swings; hearing voices or believing things that are not true; thinking of harming yourself or others; inability to perform the required daily tasks

- A healthy, positive mental health allows people to realize their full potential in life, to cope well with the stress of life in general, to work productively, and to make meaningful contributions to their communities

- Few suggestions on how to maintain a positive mental health include: seek professional help when you need it; stay connected with others; stay positive; get physically active on a daily basis; help others and have enough sleep

- Studies have shown that people with mental health problems get better and many recover completely; the recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live, work, learn, and fully participate in their communities

- There are lots of treatments, services, and community support systems than ever before, and they do work well.

Our time together went by smoothly and swiftly, leaving each of us with a pleasant feeling of peace and mutual understanding.

Additionally, here is a little composition I've put together a while ago relating to stress….enjoy it!

Few suggestions from elders to overcome STRESS

Wrapping up my briefing, once again I’m expressing my most sincere appreciation to these dear friends who promptly accepted my invitation for the evening and kindly shared with our group their personal perspectives, experiences, thoughts and hopes for the future.  

Until next time, my best regards to all!

Alice

“The natural healing force within each of us is the greatest force in getting well.” (Hippocrates)