It is supposed to be the time of year to sit back, relax, and enjoy the great weather, but “summer stress” can be a challenge for many Canadians.
It is the time of year for weddings, or trips back home to a native country, or visits from family abroad, all of them events that can add layers of demands and expectations that are very hard to meet.
“Summer stress syndrome” was identified by the renonwned Hungarian psychologist, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. He’s the man who coined the notion of “flow”. “The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile. Optimal experience is thus something we make happen.” he wrote in 1990.
“Stress changes us. It impacts us physically, emotionally and mentally.”
“Once you have regained your energy from being over-worked and over-loaded over the previous months, then physical and mental activity is the key to finding excitement and enjoyment from the rest of your vacation,” advises psychologist Beverly Beuermann-King, a stress and resiliency expert. Based in the Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario, she is perhaps well-positioned to make recommendations.
[medianet id=”7558512″ description=”Carmel Kilkenny speaks with Beverly ” titre=”EN_Interview__1″ image=”http://img.src.ca/2014/10/06/635×357/1410[medianet id=”7558512″ description=”Carmel Kilkenny speaks with psychologist Beverly Beuermann-King about what’s known as \”summer stress syndrome\”” titre=”EN_Interview__1″Beuermann-King says the change in routine for children off school for the summer can be stressful for the entire family. And even the good weather, and the inclination to fill the days and nights with activities and gatherings can take their toll.
Another major source of stress can be the renovations many Canadians plan for the summer. “Renovations can be hard on relationships as there are more opportunities for differences of opinion, conflict and becoming emotional.”
46% of Canadians found the experience of renovating frustrating and 12% of couples considered divorce following a major renovation project according to findings in a Houzz’ Remodeling & Relationships Survey.
“Stress changes us. It impacts us physically, emotionally and mentally. It changes who we are and how we relate to those around us.”
Beuermann-King says it can all be dealt with if you’re prepared. She declared June 30th, the half-way point in the year, as SOS to Stress day!
The SOS stands for the ways in which one can handle the stress. She says first is the “situation” Next is the focus on “Ourselves”; what are we doing to care for ourselves in terms of a nourishing diet, stress-relieving exercise and adequate sleep. And third is “Support”. Is there someone you can vent to, or get feedback from, in expressing frustrations or worries.
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