Reactions to stress vary and can take their toll, both
mentally and physically. Common stress symptoms
include upset stomach, fatigue, tight neck muscles,
irritability, and headaches. Some people react to stress
by eating or drinking too much, losing sleep, or smoking
cigarettes.
On-the-job pressures, changes in lifestyle, financial
difficulties, and family tensions are stressful. All too
often, people use alcohol or drugs to control the stress
they feel. However, alcohol and drugs can increase both
mental and physical stress. Regular use of alcohol and
drugs can lead to dependency.
The first step to managing stress is to identify your
stressors—what things make you react. Stressors aren’t
only events that cause you to feel sad, frightened,
anxious, or happy. You can cause stress through your
thoughts, feelings, and expectations. A key to dealing
with the big and little everyday stressors is to cope with
stress in a positive way. The following are some ways
you can use to cope with stress:
Acceptance. Many of us worry about things that we
have no control over. Learn to accept when things are
beyond your control.
Attitude. Try to focus on the positive side of
situations. By focusing on the positive, you’ll find
solutions come more easily and your stress level will be
reduced.
Perspective. Too often, we worry or become upset
about things that never happen. Keep things in
perspective.
There are many healthy ways to combat stress.
Regular exercise, proper diet, meditation, laughter,
relaxation techniques, and involvement with outside
activities can positively affect your attitude and enhance
your life as well as reduce stress.
REVIEW 4 QUESTIONS
Q1. When service members or their families are a
victim of spousal or child abuse, what Navy
program was established to help them?
Q2. List some of the ways that the FAP can help a
family.
Q3. How does stress occur?
Q4. What’s the first step when dealing with stress?
Q5. List some of the ways you can combat stress.
SUMMARY
Being a member of the Navy gives you various
responsibilities, including that of your own financial
management. Learn to use credit wisely and don’t bite
off more than you can chew. You can use your leave and
earnings statement to help you develop a budget to keep
from overextending yourself financially. The Navy
takes matters of indebtedness very seriously. Therefore,
take advantage of the programs available through the
Navy to help you with money problems.
Trying to balance a military life with a family at best
can be very challenging. Budgeting and preplanning for
periods of long deployment can help lessen the strain.
Through the Family Advocacy Program, families can
get help in times of family distress.
Stress is like body temperature. If it’s too low or too
high, you can’t survive; but, the right balance can keep
you going strong. It makes sense to use stress energy
positively, to meet life’s challenges, experiences and
goals. Stress is not all bad. In fact, positive stress can
make life both rich and satisfying.
REVIEW 1 ANSWERS
A1. The main difference between pay and allowance
is that pay is taxable income and allowance is
nontaxable income.
17-18
Student Notes:
