I apologize for the break in entries but I’ve been preparing for one or two of those life-changing events. I resigned my current position, we’re moving to another state, my wife is having a baby (any day) and we have been selling our house. Now some might see that as more than a confluence of stressful events. I see it as a confluence of stressful events.
A new baby is a fantastic event. I love babies. They represent a fresh look at life, a new perspective on humanity, and a passing along of hundred million year old genetic adaptation. A new career position is usually an opportunity to see problems from a different perspective. Meeting new people, doing daily tasks with a different cadence and being confronted with new and different problems always adds to a cumulative career of needed experiences. Moving out of a house you have lived in for many years has no redeeming qualities.
The stress of the events listed above is without question a risk factor for any of a number of bad outcomes. One of the more common expressions of stress is to overeat. Eating supplies a sudden sense of physiologic comfort and gives a brief period of rest in a tumultuous time. With the initial shock of life changes, adaptation to change is a fulcrum of tolerable reactions versus maladaptive reflexes. Overeating is just one small maladaptive change. Alcohol is another self-medicating approach to stress. Depression, evolution of cardiovascular disease and other medical expressions of stress might surface at any time.
When all is settled: new house, new state, new career path, new baby; the phenomenon of stress is very real and needs constant addressing.
A new baby is a fantastic event. I love babies. They represent a fresh look at life, a new perspective on humanity, and a passing along of hundred million year old genetic adaptation. A new career position is usually an opportunity to see problems from a different perspective. Meeting new people, doing daily tasks with a different cadence and being confronted with new and different problems always adds to a cumulative career of needed experiences. Moving out of a house you have lived in for many years has no redeeming qualities.
The stress of the events listed above is without question a risk factor for any of a number of bad outcomes. One of the more common expressions of stress is to overeat. Eating supplies a sudden sense of physiologic comfort and gives a brief period of rest in a tumultuous time. With the initial shock of life changes, adaptation to change is a fulcrum of tolerable reactions versus maladaptive reflexes. Overeating is just one small maladaptive change. Alcohol is another self-medicating approach to stress. Depression, evolution of cardiovascular disease and other medical expressions of stress might surface at any time.
When all is settled: new house, new state, new career path, new baby; the phenomenon of stress is very real and needs constant addressing.
