Review of "Stress Survival Guide"
By Jit GillHarperTorch, 2003
Review by Christian Perring, Ph.D. on Dec 22nd 2004
This little self-help book on stress was originally published in the UK in 1999, and it has some characteristics of British popular culture. It uses humor with some funny pictures and it is for a general readership: author Jit Gill keeps the level of writing very simple and straightforward. Rather than give a lot of psychological theory and experimental data, Gill devotes most of the book to the different kinds of things that cause stress and gives list of ideas to help to avoid or solve problems. For example, it has just over a page on shopping, explaining that shopping can be stressful, especially when you have to return items. In the "Stressbusters" section that accompanies each chapter, it recommends that you write out menus a week in advance and plan your shopping around that. It recommends shopping at a time when the shops are not crowded, and suggests trying out shopping on the Internet. Obviously this does not give any profound insight into the consumer society and it is not even likely to provide much help to people who don't like shopping, but possibly the suggestions may help someone. The recommendations are very elementary and are at a similar level to those one sees on TV news shows. On the other hand, the book does avoid jargon and its ideas are very practical and it is possible that it might help someone who has never previously considered that his or her problems might be stress-related or who have no clue about how to deal with them.
© 2004 Christian Perring. All rights reserved.
Christian Perring, Ph.D., is Academic Chair of the Arts & Humanities Division and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Dowling College, Long Island. He is also editor of Metapsychology Online Review. His main research is on philosophical issues in medicine, psychiatry and psychology.
Resources
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Articles
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The Nature of Stress
- Introduction and the Nature of Stress
- The Biology of Stress
- The Fours Stages of A Stress Reaction
- Other Important Biological Systems That Help Regulate Stress Reactions
- Factors Influencing the Stress Response
- Types of Stressors (Eustress vs. Distress)
- Factors Determining Whether Stressors are Experienced as Negative or Positive
- Self-Efficacy and the Perception of Control in Stress Reduction
- The Long-Term Consequences of Negative Stress
- Mental and Emotional Impact of Stress
- Social Impact of Stress
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Methods of Stress Reduction
- Methods of Stress Reduction
- Meditation for Stress Reduction
- Kinetic (Movement) Strategies for Stress Relief
- Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi for Stress Reduction
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Stress Reduction
- Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Massage, Reiki and Acupuncture Stress Reduction Techniques
- Medication Strategies for Stress Relief
- Psychological Strategies for Reducing Stress
- Cognitive Therapy Techniques for Stress Reduction
- Cognitive Distortions Affecting Stress
- Dysfunctional Beliefs Affecting Stress
- Cognitive Restructuring
- Distraction and Humor in Stress Reduction
- Visualization and Guided Imagery Techniques for Stress Reduction
- Hypnosis and Autogenic Training for Stress Reduction
- Environmental, Social and Spiritual Strategies for Stress Relief
- The Vitality of Natural Environments for Stress Reduction
- Food and Pets as Stress Relief Tools
- Socialization and Altruistic Acts as Stress Relief
- Religious/Spiritual Practice for Stress Reduction
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Stress Prevention
- Stress Prevention
- Stress Prevention: A Values Clarification Exercise
- Time Management to Prevent Stress
- Assertiveness and Interpersonal Boundaries in Stress Reduction
- Stress Inoculation Therapy
- Developing a Personalized Stress Prevention Plan
- Developing a Stress Prevention Plan Part 2
- Selecting Methods and Making a Commitment in Stress Prevention
- Tracking Your Progress and Maintaining Your Gains in Stress Prevention
- Additional Stress Reduction and Prevention Resources
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The Nature of Stress
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News
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Questions and Answers
- Husband Jealous of my Friends and Family
- What's Wrong With Me?
- ADD Maybe?
- Stress and Loss of Feeling or Emotional Deadness
- My BoyfriendLlied to Me About His Ex.
- Please, A Response!!!!!
- Can't Stand Noise
- Is Psychosis Curable?
- Anxiety
- Paranoid Thoughts
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22 more
- Do I Need Help?
- What Is Wrong with Me?
- Should I Seek Help?
- Premonitions
- I Love Her, but I Want That Spark Back
- PTSD
- Elderly Parents
- Am I Crazy?
- Concerned
- Disconnected
- I'm overemotional! What's wrong with me?
- Need a Solution (Hair Pulling) - Cat
- My Health
- what to do about built up tension inside
- Do I feel stress?
- Is Something Wrong With Her?
- Dealing With General Discontent
- Part Time Work and Stress
- Arranged Marriage
- Seizures Interfering With Love
- Countering Type A With Assertiveness
- Sick Husband
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Book & Media Reviews
- Anxiety, Phobias, and Panic
- Change Your Thinking
- De-Stress Your Life in 7 Easy Steps
- Element: Yoga for Stress Relief & Flexibility
- Emotions, Stress, and Health
- Everyday Yoga for Stress Release
- Job Stress and the Librarian
- Knowing the Nature of Fear
- Kundalini Yoga to Detox and Destress DVD
- Learn to Relax
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13 more
- Meditation for Optimum Health
- Meditation in a New York Minute
- Stress
- Stress Relief to Go
- Stress Survival Guide
- The Joy of Meditating
- The Spa Deck
- The Stress Less Workbook
- The Stress Owner's Manual
- The Stress Reduction Workbook for Teens
- The SuperStress Solution
- Thriving Under Stress
- Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief
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Links
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Videos
- How Do You Manage Stress?
- How to Stay Calm When You Know You'll Be Stressed
- Managing Stress
- Beating the Holiday Blues
- How to Stay Happy and Healthy through the Holidays?
- Are You Stressed?
- Tips To Reduce Holiday Stress And Find Your Bliss
- Understanding Your Stress
- Stress Video
- 7 Steps to Reducing Stress
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25 more
- Is Stress Making You Sick?
- 5 Ways to Decrease Stress During the Holidays
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
- What is Mindfulness?
- The Good and Bad Stress
- The Link Between Stress and Depression
- Terror Related Stress
- Emotional Stress Can Cause Illness
- Post Holiday Blues
- Stress in America - Conquering Your Stress
- Dealing with Stress
- How Your Brain Can Turn Anxiety into Calmness
- How to make stress your friend
- The Art of Stress-Free Productivity: David Allen
- 90:10 The Single Most Important Thing You Can Do For Your Stress
- Coping With Stress: Cognitive-Behavioral Stress Reduction
- Tips on how to manage everyday stress
- Stress Relief Tools To Help You Be Happy When Stressed
- Stress Will Kill You
- 5 Problem-Solving Skills to Manage Workplace Stress
- Outsmarting Stress and Enhancing Resilience
- Stress & the Heart – What You Need to Know
- Can Work Stress Hurt Your Heart?
- Good Stress Vs. Bad Stress
- 5 Tips for Coping with Natural Disaster Stress
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More Information
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