Week 7 - STRESS

In this week’s Valley City Times Record, an event coverage article give details about a “Lunch ‘n Learn” program given by Dr. Erin Klingenberg, “a licensed professional clinical counselor and director of Counseling and Human Resources at Valley City State University.” The programs are offered occasionally to the community on topics as varied as the hormonal issue presented at this week’s event. The programs are organized by the local Chamber of Commerce.

The topic for this program was how men and women react to stress and how they are similar or different. Dr. Klingenberg also presented strategies on how to cope with stress. “Fight-or-flight” versus “tend-and-befriend” were the descriptors given to the male/female reactions to stress. Which one are you?

How a person reacts has a specific connection to our hormones. The “fight-or-flight” reaction is triggered by the testosterone levels in our body. And the “tend-and-befriend” is triggered by the Oxytocin levels. Klingenberg noted that the reactions are not solely determined by your gender, although the hormones mentioned generally are.

Testosterone is produced in both the male and female bodies. However, 40 to 60 times more is produced by the male body.

When you look at Oxytocin, sources indicate its direct link to childbirth. This hormone plays a role in the female body that allows a child to be born and feed. That makes a lot of sense in its connect to “tend” to those in need during a stressful situation.

I’ve always felt that we don’t have to agree with everyone about everything. But if we know where they are coming from, and that it is their personality type, or hormone production as this would infer, then we can at least understand the hows and whys of what people do. I’ve learned about personality types and what they may do in varied situations because of facilitating with Corporate Adventures. Personality type study is one of their trainings they offer. It’s amazing how co-workers have been able to put certain people in certain positions because they know their personality type and who will best serve a specific situation. Until now, I didn’t realize hormonal levels can be just as strong.

Stress is huge in our lives. It is everywhere and how we deal with it can make or break situations in our family, work, and social interactions. Knowing when you are under stress and what we do to help yourself through it can make all the difference. Finding ways to cope before it runs our lives is important to our mental health also. My stress reliever is yoga – sometimes venting or retreating – but mostly yoga. I’m in the beginner stages of yoga but the back and joint relief it has given me is phenomenal.