How To Reduce Stress - A Dispatchers Guide

In today's society it seems like there is more bad than good going on and being a 911 Dispatcher you get to deal with all the bad things life has to throw at you in a single day. It is a job where the lives of the public are in your hands, the lives of your responders are in your hands, and your life is in your hands. Now that my friends is a lot of responsibility on a person. With all this comes stress and that stress leads to fatigue. As the first person on the line of emergency responders who must learn how to reduce our stress levels, so we can be at the top of our game. In this hub I hope to share a few ways that others have learned how to reduce stress.

There are two main kinds of stress those which are good (Eustress), and those which are bad (Distress).Eustress is that which makes you feel fulfilled and relieved. Things that cause eustress are activities such as meeting new people, exercise, love, marriage, child birth, or anything else that can make you feel a sense of accomplishment. Distress is the opposite of eustress in that it is a persons inability to adapt to stresses completely causing them to have negative effects on the person. A person who is under prolonged and constant distress can begin to become sick both mentally and physically.

• TENSION HEADACHES
• GRITTING OR GRINDING TEETH
• AGGRESSIVE BODY LANGUAGE
• MIAGRAINE HEADACHES
• HEARTBURN, STOMACH CRAMPS, AND NAUSEA
• ANXIETY, GUILT, OR WORRY
• INCREASED ANGER OR FRUSTRATION
• CONSTANT TIREDNESS
• SOCIAL WITHDRAWL

These are just a few of the symptoms associated with this problem and should be watched closely. If you do not take steps to reduce stress, it will slowly tear you down physically and mentally. In the next sections I will tell you some ways to reduce stress and hopefully have a happier and healthier you.

One of the best stress reducers out there is good old fashioned exercise. It gets the body moving and the blood pumping. It helps release that energy that builds up from being couped up at the desk all shift. Anything that works your cardiovascular system will help release that energy and make you feel like a new person. Try to take some time out when you can and just go for a walk. Enjoy nature and get some fresh air. For those who like something a bit more intense try weight lifting or a martial arts class. For those of you who may like something a little less intense you can always join a yoga or Pilate's class. The possibilities are endless with this one and no matter what type of person you are I guarantee there is an exercise just for you.

If your wanting to reduce stress, find a quiet place and just get away from the world. Get comfortable by throwing down some pillows or sitting in the middle of a bed, close your eyes and start drifting off to the place that you are your happiest. Start thinking about that tropical vacation you want to go on, a nice cruise, or a serene camping trip to the woods. Just picture yourself as the only one in the world and the only one that matters, because at this point it's all about you.

Hobbiescan help to unwind at the end of the day. That project you have been wanting to finish might be just the escape you need. Take up a craft such as building bird houses, crocheting ornaments, or building model cars. If you hone your craft a bit, you may even be able to make a little extra income on the side with it. If you like collecting things hit up some flea markets and yard sales and look for old coins and ball cards. The possibilities are nearly endless with this one but make sure it is enjoyable to you and your stress is sure to come down.

What I am doing right now is a great way to reduce stress. You become stressed by letting the day build up and the weight of the world comes down on you. Sometimes you just need to let it out. What better way to do that than through the power of words, write down your thoughts, your frustrations, and your feelings. It lets you get out exactly what is bugging you and after venting you feel like the weight is lifted off your shoulders. I know that it helps me and I have found it quite therapeutic to write on hubpages. There are all kinds of places to write such as squidoo and blogger to name some other places. Where ever you decide to write, just let it all out and let yourself feel free of those pent up emotions.

If writing it out isn't how you let out your feelings, find someone to talk to about the day. When dispatching you hear and go through a lot during the day and it will take its toll on you mentally and physically. You should have someone you can go to and say hey I need to talk. It may be a friend, family member, husband, or wife, no matter who it is just let it out and don't hold your day bottled up. Trust me I have kept it all inside after a rough day on the job and it will wear you down. Once I was able to talk to my wife about it and unload it was like the weight of the world came off my shoulders.

The most important thing to remember is your not alone in being stressed. Its a normal part of life and the job can just add to the frustration. If you want to reduce stress as much as possible, just remember to take some time for yourself and RELAX. These are just a dispatchers thoughts and ideas and I am not a professional by any means, but hopefully you will find them as useful as I have in my own life to prevent burn out.

As always if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let me know as I am always looking to improve my writing.