News

Don't sweat it: Living Well class teaches how to deal with stress

  • Published
  • By Holly Logan-Arrington
  • Robins Public Affairs
Living Well, a 90-minute class offered Mondays in the 78th Medical Operations Squadron by the Mental Health Clinic provides people with base access the skills to control stress and minimize its harmful effects.

Capt. Emily Burt, a clinical psychologist in the 78th MDOS who teaches the class, said the four-part course helps people get to the root cause of their stress and identify ways to keep it in check.

"Everyone experiences some sort of stress on a daily basis," she said. "It's important for us to know how to identify when we're overwhelmed and what to do when we're bogged down with stress.

"We discuss the signs of stress, common responses to different stressors, and identify its impact on all aspects of our lives," she added. "We teach ways to implement stress management for the body and the mind. Lastly, we educate group members on living well with emotions and with relationships."

Burt said she teaches relaxation techniques which are practical for use at home or work and gives people ways to challenge their negative, angry, depressed or anxious thoughts.

"We talk about getting back to our roots with identifying our values," she said. "We also talk about stress in all relationships - romantic, parent-child, supervisor-employee, etc. - and teach ways to assertively communicate our needs to others."

Burt said anyone who experiences the signs of stress should consider taking the class.

"Living Well teaches us to take time for ourselves and pay attention to our bodies," she said. "We recommend you take this class if you're experiencing emotional signs of stress such as irritability, anxiety or mental fatigue.

Other signs the class could be helpful include behavioral signs such as isolating yourself from others; dependence on alcohol or other substances; physical exhaustion; impulsive eating or buying. Other signs include physical signs of stress such as being frequently ill, headaches or difficulty sleeping.

For more information, call 478-327-8398 or DSN 497-8398.