Rethinking
Stress ProblemsPeople hold many beliefs about themselves, others, and the world. Stressful events can challenge beliefs, such as those about being invulnerable, events being predictable, the world being a safe place, and beliefs about our own worth. When your beliefs are challenged, you may become scared, sad, guilty, or feel worthless.
Many of us face extremely stressful events (combat, natural disasters, etc.) and cope adequately. People create their own realities; they rethink situations. People who handle stress best have more positive than negative thoughts. They tend to believe that they have some control, that they can handle things, that there is meaning in stressful situations, that things could have been worse, and take personal responsibility for events within their control.
Rethinking
Stress Exercise
Please journal about the following questions, and come back later to what you have written, for increased insight into your problems.
1. Think about a past stressful situation, and how you have dealt with it. __________________________________________________________________________
2. How did you have control in the situation? ______________________________________________________________________________
3. What was a positive result of the situation?_____________________________________________________________________
4. What meaning did you find in the situation?_______________________________________________________________________
How could it have been worse? _______________________________________________________________________
How well did you do in handling this situation compared to others?_______________________________________________________________________
