Success!Ezine  
is a Free newsletter provided to you by Dr. E. Carol Webster to help you get ahead in life and enjoy your success. 

Send e-mail address to Subscribe if you'd like to receive future issues. Your address will not be shared.

Feature Article

Stress of War Can Depress You
E. Carol Webster, Ph.D. 
Copyright © 2003

News reports from around the country confirm what psychologists are seeing everyday: people are feeling more stress because of fear about the war on Iraq. It doesn’t matter whether you are pro- or anti-war, you can feel the effects of the country’s conflict abroad and it can get you down. Keep it from undermining your success at work and in your personal life by taking action:

Recognize The Signs

Some people feel nervous, afraid, plagued by persistent worries about what’s going to happen next. Their stress is shown in the ways you typically think of, such as trembling, sweating, getting headaches, stomachaches, or diarrhea, and being unable to relax and sleep.

Others complain of feeling down in the dumps, pessimistic and negative, tired all the time, and spend a lot more time in the bed when they’re at home — even though they don’t really feel rested when they get up.

For some, the symptoms show themselves in work-related ways, such as being late or calling in sick a lot, having trouble concentrating and getting things done, missing important project deadlines and work activities, or outright forgetting office policies, procedures, and practices that they normally know by heart. These signs indicate that stress is getting to you and is probably causing you to be less productive at work and at home. In these bad economic times, this is not good.  It keeps you from moving forward in your career. Take steps to get this stress under control.

Accept That Fear Is Normal

In times of war, it is perfectly normal to feel afraid. Fear is an expected response to scary things and this fear is heightened when you don’t know how things are going to turn out. Today, fears of terrorism linger in the backdrop too, and so it’s quite understandable that you have concerns about your safety and that of your family. Your tension will be heightened if you have a relative in the military or know someone personally who is engaged in the war effort. You also may feel more stressed than others if you visit or live near a military base where war issues predominate.

Don’t Add To Your Own Fear

It’s important to understand that you may be fueling your own fear if you spend too much time watching television or Internet reports about the war, listening to radio shows, or talking to other people about every latest military move or attack in Iraq. There is such a thing as too much information. It becomes negative over-stimulation after a point. You can keep your fear manageable if you:

Take Control Of The Things You Can

It’s important to remember that you do have control over some things, even if it’s not the war. Ease feelings of helplessness by taking some action:

About the Author: 
Dr. E. Carol Webster is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Fort Lauderdale, FL and is author of 
Success Management: How to Get to the Top and Keep Your Sanity Once You Get There and The Fear of Success: Stop It From Stopping You!
 

Ask Dr. Webster....

Dear Dr. Webster: Are the most successful people passionate about what they are doing? How do I find my passion?

                      --Yvonne Julian-Hargrove

Dear Ms. Julian-Hargrove:

No, there are plenty of people who are considered highly successful because they possess the age-old status symbols that society reveres, but who are bored stiff in their jobs and close to needing life support to go into work everyday. Unfortunately, they have golden handcuffs and feel that they can’t afford to give up great income and benefits to shift into something they might enjoy better.

Conversely, there are lots of folks who are passionate about what they’re doing, make a decent living, but would not be ranked in traditional terms as successful because they lack these symbols. In my books, I encourage people to view success as a process: the effective use of positive attitudes and behaviors that enable you to reach your goals, whatever they may be, rather than what you obtain once you get there. Many folks would qualify as being very successful under this definition. Unfortunately, however, society’s emphasis is still on the status symbols and that’s the reality you’re up against.

The question of passion in one’s career may be on your mind because it’s a popular topic that’s in vogue today. But remember that a job is a j-o-b. That’s why it’s called work. Every occupation has its drudgery — particularly once you pass the novelty and get into the routine. Even performers, who are typically viewed as living the "glamorous life", understandably complain about singing the same song--the same way--in the same venues--for the zillionth time.

Many people quit lucrative jobs to convert passionate pursuits into careers, only to rue the monotony of painting sunsets over and over or packing their bags again and again to travel to places at home and abroad that now have become well-trodden. While you certainly don’t want to be depressed in your current job and may need to make some changes, no job provides fireworks everyday so don’t look for that. If you’re a person who feels the pressure of society’s emphasis upon materialistic symbols of success, like driving a new car, living in a big house, keeping the kids in private school, soccer and summer camp and can afford them by staying where you are, then accept these realities, try to accentuate what you do like about your current position, and keep your day job. Find your passion elsewhere. Here’s how:

Identify the things that fire you up and always did even when you were much younger. Many people discover that they’ve consistently gotten excited and propelled to action for long periods when fighting something — things like injustice, victimization, adversity, poverty, illness, for example. This fire motivates them to get involved in activities after work and on weekends to do something about a problem and they begin to spend more time at it.

These activities help them feel like they’re making a difference, serving some purpose in life, and even leaving a legacy for themselves so that their hard work will still have impact on this earth long after they’re dead and gone. This gives their life clearer meaning and fuels more passion to push forward. All types of businesses and organizations have been started to serve as special vehicles for this kind of energy, and if you come upon opportunities that will give you the income you need to keep the lifestyle you want too, then you’re one of the fortunate ones so go for it!

--Dr. Webster

Got a Question?

Ask Dr. Webster

Success Motivator

"We don't have
an eternity to
realize our dreams, only the time
we are here.

-- Susan Taylor

Success Tip

You will have fewer jitters and pitch your presentation at work or your speech in the community with greater confidence if you practice in advance.

Good speakers understand that public speaking is a learned skill, not something that is inherited that only 'people who have a gift' can do.

How much practice do you need?

Author James Amps III recommends:
 

From the book:

Speaking To Excel
by
James Amps III

 Pembroke Pines, FL
 Amps Communications 2000.

Success!Ezine
E. Carol Webster, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology
drcarolwebster.com
954.797.9766
SuccessEzine@drcarolwebster.com

If you enjoyed this newsletter, forward a copy to friends so they can subscribe!
Thank you.