Understanding stress and how to cope – TEAM Resources

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Published: August 1, 2002

This year we’ll be harvesting only 10 percent of our farm and are

optimistically expecting one to two percent of our average annual yield.

We are not unlike many of the grain farmers in the prairie provinces

this year. Livestock producers are probably in worse shape.

It is not unusual for farm families to have stressful life events. The

stresses facing farmers can be caused by unfavourable weather, high

costs and low unpredictable prices, government regulations, changes in

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No Use China. No Use France.

Well-being improvement can pay off for farms

Investing in wellness programs in a tight labour market can help farms recruit and retain employees

trade patterns, multi-generations working together and long hours with

too much to do in too little time.

Stress overload can affect farmers and cause higher rates of heart

disease, ulcers and fatigue-related accidents.

It is timely to discuss healthy ways of dealing with stress.

  • Recognize and admit to yourself when you are worrying about the farm

family or business.

  • Talk about your concerns and fears with a family member, trusted

friend or counsellor.

  • Take time for healthy fun and recreation.
  • Communication is about planning, working and sharing decisions and

rewards together. It is about knowing the expectations of each other.

In farming, it is often the quiet, serious, respectful members who feel

the most stress from the lack of communication.

  • Escapes, such as getting away for a week or a weekend, can provide

temporary relief and a fresher outlook.

  • Anger can come from frustration, hurt and fear, and is too often not

openly and honestly expressed. Physical exertion, such as playing a

sport, gardening, or shoveling grain (if we had any), can help

alleviate anger.

  • Humour is the best medicine. Find ways to laugh.
  • Everyone needs outside interests. Worries can be relieved by

participating in community events, volunteer work or doing something

for

others.

  • Expecting too much of oneself causes worry and decreases enjoyment.

Set realistic goals, and leave time for recreation and fun. Life is not

a dress rehearsal.

  • Avoid thinking about all that has to be done too far ahead. Instead,

priorize and organize.

  • Keep criticism of yourself and others constructive and minimal.

Realistic expectations are important.

  • Give the other person a break, using co-operation rather than

competition. Avoid power struggles. Give in occasionally.

  • It is healthier to make yourself available for discussion, for help

or for fun. Make the first move.

  • Recreation is essential for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual

health. Schedule it in and have a routine or set time to do it, so it

doesn’t get pushed aside for more “important” activities. You and your

family and friends are worth it.

  • Develop, nurture and maintain a positive attitude toward work, play,

and living.

Readers may be interested in this scale, in the box to the right, that

has been designed to help predict crisis or stress-related illness.

Changes in a person’s life, good or bad, can have a stressful effect

and lead to illness. It also gives you an idea of what factors cause

stress in your life, so you can do what you can to compensate for the

increased stress load.

A quick pick-me-up

Recently at one of my aunt’s, I had a wonderful lemon tart. This recipe

is quick and easy to make for busy people.

Old-fashioned lemon tarts

1 lemon

4 eggs

2 cups granulated 500 mL

white sugar

1/2 cup butter 125 mL

16 tart shells ( 21/2 inch/6 cm)

Cut the lemon into quarters, then thinly slice, and remove seeds. Place

it in blender along with the eggs, sugar and butter.

Process until the lemon is finely chopped. Divide the mixture evenly

among the tart shells. Place on a baking sheet and bake in 350 F (180

C) oven for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Social readjustment rating scale

The numbers in the right-hand column represent the level of response

required to cope with each event, averaged from hundreds of people. The

more changes you undergo in a given period of time, the more points you

accumulate. The higher the score, the more likely you are to have a

health change. Add up your score for all the items that applied to you

in the last year.

1. Death of spouse 100

2. Divorce 73

3. Marital separation 65

4. Jail term 63

5. Death of close family member 63

6. Personal injury or illness 53

7. Marriage 50

8. Fired from work 47

9. Marital reconciliation 45

10. Retirement 45

11. Change in health of family member 44

12. Pregnancy 40

13. Sex difficulties 39

14. Gain of new family member 39

15. Business readjustment 39

16. Change in financial state 38

18. Change to different line of work 36

19. Increasing arguments with spouse 35

20. Mortgage over $10,000 31

21. Foreclosure of loan 30

22. Change in responsibilities at work 29

23. Son or daughter leaving home 29

24. Trouble with in-laws 29

25. Outstanding personal achievement 28

26. Spouse begins/stops work 26

27. Begin or end school 26

28. Change in living conditions 25

29. Revision of personal habits 24

30. Trouble with boss 23

31. Change in work hours or conditions 20

32. Change in residence 20

33. Change in schools 20

34. Change in recreation 19

35. Change in church activities 19

36. Change in social activities 18

37. Loan less than $10,000 17

38. Change in sleeping habits 16

39. Change in number of family events 15

40. Change in eating habits 15

41. Vacation 13

42. Christmas 12

43. Minor violations of the law 11

What your score means:

Below 150 points: You are on safe ground with a one in three chance of

a health change in the next two years.

Between 150-300 points: Your chances rise to 50/50.

Over 300 points: Your chances are almost 90 percent that you may suffer

from a serious health change.

Source: Between Generations! Ontario Ministry of

Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, Guelph, Ont.

Barbara Sanderson is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and one of

four columnists comprising Team Resources. Send correspondence in care

of this newspaper, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4.

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