A new survey released by the American Psychological Association reveals that money is the biggest cause of stress for most Americans. The survey conducted in late January, asked 1,000 people to list the most significant factors contributing to stress in their lives.

73 percent of Americans said money was their primary cause of stress, and 33 percent said money was a contributing factor to the stress they experience. Other significant factors listed in the survey were work, physical health, and children.

Executive Director of professional practice at the American Psychological Society, Russ Newman released a prepared statement regarding the survey results. Newman said, "Stress related to money worries can have a real impact on people's psychological health." He added, "People can learn to manage financial stressors and other life challenges by taking steps to build and enhance their resilience." Resilience involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that help people adapt in the face of adversity, trauma, or other sources of stress.

—www.healthday.com, Money is the Root of…Stress, April 17, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

The Apostle Paul warned that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, but it was Jesus who offered a real source of resilience. He said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)

From 1992 – 2002 Swedish researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm tracked more than 3000 men, rating them and their perceptions about their bosses.

By the end of the study, 74 of the men had suffered heart attacks or other serious cardiac events. The lower an employer’s leadership score, the higher the worker’s risk of heart problems. The chance of heart attack also increased with the number of years of exposure to the bad boss.

--AARP Bulletin, January-February 2009, p16) (The study appeared online in the Nov. 27 Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Anxiety, whether generated at work or at home will do nothing to increase a person’s lifespan or quality of life.

Matthew 6:27 (NASB77) "And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?

Stress kills. It creates problems ranging from headaches to heart attacks. According to the World Health Organization, it is a “World Wide Epidemic,” and the United Nations named it “The 20th Century Disease” in 1992.

--http://arfster.multiply.com/journal/item/466 . Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Stress is not the problem, it is a symptom of a life lived out of balance where anxiety runs unrestrained. A job change or a different routine won’t cure that problem, only a life transformation can do that.

Psalm 55:22 (MSG) “Pile your troubles on God's shoulders— he'll carry your load, he'll help you out. He'll never let good people topple into ruin.”

The poor economy is forcing many Americans to tighten their financial belts, and experts say for many people the hard times also mean tighter clothing as they turn to fatty and sugary comfort foods to ease daily stress. Clinical psychologist and emotional eating expert Denise Lamothe says research indicates more than half the population eats more when they feel stressed. She says in her practice she is seeing people who were losing weight before they encountered financial troubles eating more and reversing the trend.

Lamothe, who is author of a book entitled The Taming of the Chew says, “As the economy has faltered, people have become more and more anxious, more and more fearful. The more intense feelings become, the more people will turn to sugar, fat, and salt because that’s where they can get some relief.” Studies also indicate those types of food are cheaper per calorie than healthier fruits and vegetables.

Leslie Fuller, a paralegal from Las Vegas recently lost her home to foreclosure. Her family spent most of her savings moving and had to put one of their dogs to sleep. On top of everything else, Fuller faces foot surgery in a month. She says she takes comfort in eating chocolate candy because it makes her feel better. Fuller says, “To say my life is stressful is an understatement. I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I just don’t know how far it is.”

--Tough Times May Mean Tighter Pants, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/16/health/main5092604.shtml ; June 16, 2009, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Fear and Stress do not have to ruin our lives. The Apostle Paul recommended another approach. Why worry, when you can pray?

Philippians 4:6-7 (CEV) “Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.”

Research conducted by a Swedish institution has found that a link between permanent stress and an increased risk of diabetes. The research focused on 7,000 men with no history of diabetes, heart disease, or stoke. The men were tracked through medical records to see what condition developed in their lives based on the way they answered questions about their level of “permanent stress.” After 35 years, researchers found that the men who reported permanent stress were 45 percent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes compared with those who reported periodic or no stress in their lives. Researchers pointed out that this was after they took into account other diabetes risk factors. They admitted they can’t be sure the exact relationship, but they have established a link. In their report the researchers wrote, “Self-perceived permanent stress is an important long-term predictor of diagnosed diabetes, independently of socio-economic status, BMI, and other conventional Type 2 diabetes risk factors.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Chronic Stress Raises Diabetes Risk, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/10/chronic-stress-diabetes-risk-men-type-2_n_2640358.html?utm_hp_ref=health-news&ir=Health%20News, Accessed February 10, 2013.

Psalm 127:2 (ESV) It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Physicians can use the latest medical technology to examine our internal organs, but one of the biggest health concerns people face cannot be seen. Research indicates emotions can impact a person’s health as much as problems with various organs can. Among the links that have been discovered are a link between back pain and anger. When people get angry, neural pathways are activated which transfer the tension to the muscles surrounding the spine. The result is intensified back pain. Other findings indicate loneliness can lead to an increase in blood pressure and depression increases a person’s risk for developing cancer. Even workplace stress could play a role in the development of diseases such as diabetes. Dr. Karen Lawson, an assistant professor of family medicine and community health at the University of Minnesota summarized the findings saying, “Emotions are physiological. The idea that our bodies are separate from our feelings is a complete misconception.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Controlling anxiety: When your feelings hurt you, by Cindy Kuzma, http://www.nbcnews.com/id/50761188/ns/health-mens_health/, Accessed February 10, 2013.

Psalm 31:9-10 (ESV) (9) Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. (10) For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.

Most people look for a coffee shop with free Wi-Fi and get annoyed if that service isn’t provided. A Canadian coffee shop tried the opposite approach. The Faraday Café was built to repel and jam cell phone signals and was the first such shop in the world to try and deliberately create a wireless “black hole.” The owner worked with engineers to create what is known as a Faraday cage around the shop to turn away signals from the outside. The owner, Julien Thomas said he felt that digital technology had developed so quickly that people have not really had a chance to think about the etiquette or ethics around their use. Thomas hoped to help his customers feel what casual life was like without a constant Internet connection.

--This Coffee Shop Was Built to Repel WiFi and Cell Reception, By Daniel Bean,
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/this-coffee-shop-was-built-to-repel-wifi-and-cell-94073544549.html?soc_src=mags, Accessed August 7, 2014.

Proverbs 13:14 (NASB) (14) The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.

A new Gallup poll found that 17% of Americans named Ebola as America’s “most urgent health problem.” That is a much larger percentage than those naming our real heath problems, obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or substance abuse. Two people have died in the US from Ebola compared to the millions killed by the others.

It is so easy to stress out over things less important. Jesus told Martha you are concerned about so many things. Focus on the one thing most important. When life’s problems begin to bring stress, we do well to remember Jesus’ words to Martha. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV) “And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. (42) But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’"

Stress

In Brooklyn, you can deal with the stress of adult problems with a mere $999. For that amount, Preschool Mastermind will sign you up for a five-week course where along with other adults you can “play dress up, sing Wheels On the Bus, and make Play Doh sculptures. You will spend your day with other professionals, photographers, teachers, and corporate lawyers.

Sarah Fader, 35 a CEO explains, “It sounded so freeing, to go play and not deal with adult problems.”

The Psalmist says that when such anxieties strike, we find consolation that brings Joy to the soul. You might want to keep your one-thousand bucks and lean on the Lord. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Psalm 94:19 (HCSB)“When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.”

A sleep researcher with the United States Army has discovered a new disorder caused by the stress service members encountered on the battlefield. Col. Vincent Mysliwiec said he had heard reports about an unusual sleep disorder but did not actually see it until he encountered it in a sleep laboratory. Mysliwiec said Trauma Associated Sleep Disorder, or TSD, creates dream enactment behaviors where veterans will yell, scream, and even strike out in their sleep. He said they may hurt themselves or others during the incidents. He believes the disorder is related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder because the body releases too much adrenaline, which had been proven to create feelings of being stressed and lead to nightmares. Now that the problem has been identified, Mysliwiec is developing treatment plans to help relieve stress for those suffering from the disorder.–Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Army doctor discovers new sleep disorder, By David Vergun,

Psalm 127:2 (HCSB)“In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food— yes, He gives sleep to the one He loves.”

Research has shown that a major of cause of stress is work, and research by Concordia University in Canada suggests that people who bicycle to work experience less stress than those who drive. Researchers surveyed workers at a company and asked them about their more of transportation, their current mood, and their perceived stress levels. The survey was completed within 45 minutes of each person’s arrival at work. Lead author Stephanie Brutus said people who cycled to work reported less stress tan those who drove. She said workload, office conflict and pay concerns contribute to workplace stress. Brutus said, "Recent research has shown that early morning stress and mood are strong predictors of their effect later in the day. They can shape how subsequent events are perceived, interpreted, and acted upon for the rest of the day."—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Psalm 34:14 (CSB) “Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.”

A recent Gallup poll has discovered a new reason for us to be stressed. The poll found that we are some of the most stressed-out people in the world. 55 percent of Americans say they had felt a lot of stress the day before. This is way above the global average of 35 percent. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Luke 10:41–42 (CSB) The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Nadine Kaslow, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University provides some guidance on coping with COVID-19 pandemic stress to the readers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She says, “During these warm, spring days, just being outside can be a pleasant experience. Consider planting flowers, having a meal outdoors or simply listening to the birds. Seek out online videos on deep breathing and mindfulness, which can help you live in the moment and relax. Try to eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of fluids and avoid turning to alcohol to help manage your stress.” —Jim L. Wilson

In Psychology Today, Raj Persaud, M.D. says, “Stress is not due to the presence of something (the virus, job loss, social isolation), but instead the lack of something else: safety.”

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/slightly-blighty/202010/surprising-approach-coping-covid-19-stress

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

“Many respondents reported higher rates of past-month drug and alcohol use. The rate of past-month alcohol use grew with household income: 40% of lower-income households, 45.96% of middle-income households and 52.69% of high-income households.”

In Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek writes, “Decades ago, scientists in Britain set out to study this link between an employee’s place on the corporate ladder and stress, presumably to help executives deal with the toll stress was taking on their health and their lives. Known collectively as the Whitehall Studies, the studies’ findings were both astounding and profound. Researchers found that workers’ stress was not caused by a higher degree of responsibility and pressure usually associated with rank. It is not the demands of the job that cause the most stress, but the degree of control workers feel they have throughout their day. The studies also found that the effort required by a job is not in itself stressful, but the imbalance between the effort we give and the reward we feel. Put simply: less control, more stress.”

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.