Y ou may not have known that April is Stress Awareness Month, but that probably hasn’t kept you from experiencing some challenges along the way. In a study released in November 2017, the stres Psychological Association shared the most common sources of stress in our country: the future of our nation, money, work, the current political climate, and violence and crime. And according to the American Institute of Stress, about 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related disorders, ranging from stomach trouble to heart disease. Job related stress costs American businesses about $150 billion a year. CareerCast found that many of the most stressful jobs share two key characteristics: the presence of stress is nearly always existent, and spikes in periods of high stress are unpredictable. That means stress is very real, especially to people who do the work you do. In fact, firefighting was the second most stressful job behind being in the military. Pilot, police officer, and event coordinator round out the top five. So what can you do to stay healthy? Here are five aspects of self-care that will help you be better prepared for all you do. Exercise daily – most of you do a good job of this while you’re on duty. You take time, often as a crew, to intentionally stay in shape. But what is your exercise plan on your days off? Do you have a workout routine for when you’re on your own? Avoid alcohol and drugs – I guess you’d expect a chaplain to say that. But the real danger in using alcohol and drugs is that they can mask the very symptoms of stress that you are experiencing. Your body does a great job of communicating trouble. There are physical, emotional, intellectual, behavioral and spiritual signs that indicate you are experiencing stress. Alcohol and drugs can get in the way of this normal communication and cover over some very real issues. Get plenty of rest – while sleep is not in your control while on duty, make sure you get plenty of rest on your days off. Turn off the TV, shut down the computer, and get the rest you need. Do things that feel good – downtime, white space, margin. We all need this. But how many of you take time for you? I know this can be a challenge, especially if you have children or grandchildren in your home. Hunting and fishing, woodworking and gardening, reading and walking. All of these give you the opportunity to become refreshed and refocused. Eat well-balanced meals – while fire house cooking is the stuff of legends, there are also times when Ronald McDonald is in charge of dinner. Eating well takes some work, but it’s work that pays huge dividends. These self-care suggestions are meant to bring about a change of life. They will have the most benefit when you incorporate them into your day-to-day routine and not when you simply try them for a day or two. You can find out more about Chaplain Joe and Fire Rescue Support by visiting www.firerescuesupport.com. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG 15 Stress Busters By Joseph A. LaCognata, Chaplain, Fire Rescue Support April 2018 FFS.QXD 4/10/18 1:40 PM Page 15