Stress in the Mid-West Region of the United States
Stress is defined as a tension or pressure exerted on the emotional or mental capacity of a person due to very adverse or demanding circumstances. There are various sources of stress. They include emotional problems, health issues and relationships. Others include lifer changes or stresses and strains in the family. These issues affect the mental or psychological well-being of a person. People commit suicide, murder and other social vices in a community due to stress. Others get into drug abuse so as to forget the things that give them stress. Some causes of stress are, death of a loved one, relationship break up, dismissal from a job, when a person acquires an incurable disease like cancer or HIV and even when a person moves from one place to another. These all cause a person to be stressed.
Mid-West region consists of States like Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. These are the states that make the Mid-Western United States. They are twelve in number. Recent studies show that stress in this region has increased. There are various ways that stress manifests itself both physically and none physically in adults who live in the Mid-Western region. According to American Psychological Association, forty six percent of all individuals who were interviewed admitted that their stress levels increased. With apt calculations, it was deduced that stress levels increased by up to thirty nine percent in the year 2010 to 2013. Now, this is a worrying figure at all points. There are other figures. In addition to the increased thirty nine percent, there are facts that show that forty nine percent of Midwesterners are highly irritability. Forty seven percent are always nervous. Forty six percent show signs of depression, forty three percent are overwhelmed and forty one percent admit that they want to cry.
It is not emotional issues and psychological issues that make a person to have stress. According to the recent studies published in the same website, health conditions also stress a person. Compared to other parts of the United States, the Mid Western region is said to be the region with the most families who are inactive. Another worrying figure about the Mid-Western region is its high cholesterol maintenance (thirty percent). Diabetes causes fourteen percent of the stress, depression nineteen percent and anxiety orders cause 14 percent of the stress. In other figures, the report states that Mid Westerners have about sixteen percent of the likelihood of their families to be inactive. And amidst all these figures, only forty one percent of Mid Westerners believe that psychologists can solve their stress problems. Therefore, there is need to have a better problem solving mechanism or solution that is acceptable to everybody.
Before we come to an apt solution, we must examine the causes. We cannot find a solution that is suitable for all the causes. My diagnosis therefore, is that we find a solution for each cause of stress in this region. Let us start with the first cause; emotional stress. This includes irritability, sadness, depression and nervousness as mentioned above. The figures are there already. My solution to emotional stress is simply emotional stability. Emotional stability can only be gotten by emotional support from loved ones. Family and friends are a big part of the emotional support of a person. In fact it would not be wrong to deduce that only they can give emotional stability. When a person is continuously reminded that he or she is loved and supported no matter what happens, he or she becomes happy. However, when a person is going through a hard time, and there is nobody to support him or her, then they become highly irritable and depressed. This is what leads to suicide and murder and the like. Therefore, I propose that we have family building and bonding time. The one barrier that can lead to the dissatisfaction of members in this community with my solution is the fact that most people are nit close to their families and friends. Since most men are resistant to anything that involves emotional build up, they are also a problem. However, when the seriousness of this matter is considered, I am positive that men will get on board. Families are supposed to be there for each other. So when issues arise, at least one knows that he or she has shoulders to lean on.
The second cause of stress is mental instability. Mental instability occurs when an unfortunate thing has happened or is going to happen for a person. Like emotional instability, it can be solved by the love and support of loved ones. Mental instability which causes stress can be very lethal. It is what drives people into insanity. However, with the right mechanism and support, this is an issue that can be past tense. Again, the challenge or the barrier that comes in is the fact that most people are resistant to some problem solving solutions like the one the one that I have mentioned. That is, family bonding.
The third cause of stress as mentioned above is health issues. Things like cholesterol cause obesity in individuals. Diabetes and cancer which provide a considerable amount of the percentage stress on individuals. These are problems that can be simply solved through healthy living. People should avoid high sugar, fatty foods and eat healthier foods like vegetables. People should also hit the gym. The main cause of stress in health is the fact that a loved one suffers from a sickness like cancer or diabetes. The emotional breakdown that a person goes through is unmatched. The financial strain is also very much a cause of stress. When a person spends most of his or her time in hospitals, the bills pile up. These bills must be paid. Family resources may not be enough to take care of them. Therefore, a family must seek help from outside sources. This is what causes the most stress. However, when the people of this region begin to eat healthy foods and do physical exercises, then this health problem will most like disappear. It may not be eradicated completely. But it will ease the burden, thus get rid of the stress associated with health issues. There are many barriers that will prevent this from achieving its goal. For example, when we start putting up gyms, people are more likely to abscond the gym than go to exercise. In any society, change is very much unlikely to be accepted. However, with time and appropriate meetings to teach people on the benefit of healthy living, people will accept it. Eventually, Mid Westerners will get the gist of the solution proposed. Another challenge would be the financial back up required to achieve this goal. Donors and the community at large will be required to donate some money to this very good cause. However, this may not happen since donors may not see the benefit and the community may be reluctant. The solution to this is just teaching everyone the benefit.
The above are my proposed solutions to the problem that is facing this community. I have also spoken about the barriers which you have heard and how we can overcome these barriers. Nevertheless, I want to do another proposal to you. I want you, my audience, to volunteer to help me in the eradication of stress. From the first solution to the first cause of stress; that is irritability, sadness, depression and nervousness as mentioned above. The figures are there already. The solution to emotional stress was simply emotional stability. Emotional stability can only be gotten by emotional support from loved ones. The second solution to the second cause of stress was like the first solution to the first cause of stress; love and support. Finally, the third cause of stress was health issues. This has said can simply be solved by healthy living. What I want my audience to do is rather simple. I want my audience to make a pledge that from now on, they are going to try to find solutions to their issues. A pledge only! And I want you to put it in writing, putting your name and signature as a show or sign of good faith.
The reason why I think the solution that I have mentioned will work is because they have worked elsewhere. Places like the East Coast and the Southern parts of the United States have had their stress levels reduced. When you look at the figures in American Psychological Association website, you will find that the stress levels reduced up top forty eight percent. With time, this percentage will most likely rise. That is why I think this solution will work. Another reason why I think this solution will work is because it has come from doctors. I did my research well. I consulted doctors, psychologists and other health professionals, both who have specialized in stress or not, and they gave me there same solutions
Now, there are several barriers that will prevent my audience from accepting these solutions. For one, most people are nit close to their families and friends. Since most men are resistant to anything that involves emotional build up, they are also a problem. However, when the seriousness of this matter is considered, I am positive that men will get on board. Two, most people are resistant to some problem solving solutions like the one the one that I have mentioned. That is, family bonding. Three, when we start putting up gyms, people are more likely to abscond the gym than go to exercise. In any society, change is very much unlikely to be accepted. Finally, there is the financial matter. All these programs need finance. When these resources are not there, then a problem or a barrier arises.
In conclusion, every member of the Mid-Western region is supposed to take part in this necessary venture. With community support, this can help to reduce stress levels in the region. People should support each other and help one another to reduce their stress levels. When this happens, this region will be a better place. Thus, people will be happier and more fulfilled. The region will become a hub and people will admire it. Thank you.
References
Fiona Jones, Jim Bright, Angela Clow, Stress: myth, theory, and research, Pearson Education, 2001, p.4
Folkman, S.; Moskowitz, J. (2000). "Stress, Positive Emotion, and Coping". Current Directions in Psychological Science 9 (4): 115–118.
Palmer, S., & Cooper, C. (2013). How to Deal with Stress. London: Kogan Page.
Palmer, S., & Cooper, C. L. (2010). How to deal with stress. London: Kogan Page Ltd.
shishehgar, Sara. (2013). "The Relationship of Social Support and Quality of Life with the Level of Stress in Pregnant Women Using the PATH Model". Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal 15 (7): 560–5.
Sprung, B. (1998). Stress. Austin, Tex: Raintree Steck-Vaughn. http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2011/region.aspx
Stress by Region: 2011. (2014). Retrieved February 14, 2014, from http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2011/region.aspx
