Many experts say that change is an important part of everyday life. Some have even said that without change we are dead! People are constantly changing, our communities and countries change, and our world is always changing. We have to accept that as fact. But how do we react to change? Does change excite us or do we fear it? That is apparently the most important question. Either way, whether the changes are unexpected or planned for, change causes us stress.

Many researchers in the 60s began studying how our bodies react to change. We are highly developed animals that still have a “fight or flight” reaction to something new, and our bodies produce chemicals and hormones to help us cope with the sudden stress of change. Our bodies can’t tell if something new is short term or long term, so it doesn’t know when to turn off the “fight or flight” hormones and chemicals. Continuing stress causes insomnia, anxiety, muscular tension, pain, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and depression, according to the American Psychological Association and the Mayo Clinic. What is not commonly known is that positive change is almost as stressful as negative change, so we need to learn how to help ourselves cope.

Coping With Stress

So how do we manage stress to remain healthy? If the changes are expected and/or positive, like a marriage, birth of a child, going to a new school, moving to a new house, or getting an award, we should make a practical plan, create a group of people that support us, stay physically healthy – exercise and eat well – and try to focus on one change at a time.

If the change is sudden and/or negative, like loss of a job, a divorce, an accident, or death of someone dear, there are other ways we can help ourselves cope with the stress: limit caffeine, laugh, avoid alcohol and drugs, learn ways to relax, lean on friends, focus on activities you love, eat healthy, get lots of sleep, and focus on things you can solve, not on those out of your control.

Our lives are full of change and stress, but how we react is within our control. If we learn to effectively cope with change and stress, we can remain healthy throughout our lives.

Dr. Joanne McNeal is a McCauley senior, homeowner, artist, educator, and musician. She has studied the research results on change and stress, and summarized these suggestions for coping from the Mayo Clinic, the APA, and the National Library of Medicine.