I have written a lot lately about stress management. In fact, I have just published a book with co-author Janice B. Longobardi titled "I Can't Take It Anymore: How to Manage Stress so It Doesn't Manage You", available at Amazon Books, https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542458056
So how does faith and spirituality assist you in managing stress? Our priest at church yesterday included references to our book in his sermon on the travails of Abraham in the Book of Genesis. So, I thought that I would include a section on this topic from our book. I hope it is helpful to you in your life's journey.
Faith is a belief or trust in God, while spirituality is an attachment to religious values. Whichever term you prefer, the concept can be used to successfully reduce stress and improve quality of life. At its core, spirituality helps to give our lives context. It's not necessarily connected to a specific belief system or even religious worship. Instead, it arises from your connection with yourself and with others, the development of your personal value system, and your search for meaning in life. For many, spirituality takes the form of religious observance, prayer, meditation, or a belief in a higher power. For others, it can be found in nature, music, art, or a secular community. Spirituality is different for everyone.
How can spirituality help with stress relief? Spirituality has many benefits for stress relief and overall mental health. It can help you:
1. Feel a sense of purpose. Cultivating your spirituality may help uncover what's most meaningful in your life. By clarifying what's most important, you can focus less on the unimportant things and eliminate stress.
2. Connect to the world. The more you feel you have a purpose in the world, the less solitary you feel—even when you're alone. This can lead to a valuable inner peace during difficult times.
3. Release control. When you feel part of a greater whole, you realize that you aren't responsible for everything that happens in life. You can share the burden of tough times, as well as the joys of life's blessings with those around you.
4. Expand your support network. Whether you find spirituality in a church, mosque or synagogue, in your family, or in nature walks with a friend, this sharing of spiritual expression can help build relationships.
5. Lead a healthier life. People who consider themselves spiritual appear to be better able to cope with stress, and heal from illness or addiction faster.
Many different research studies have established a connection between faith/spirituality and stress relief. In general, studies and scientific reviews have shown promise in demonstrating that the greater the amount of religiousness (faith) that people have, the greater the positive effects on their mental health and stress reduction.
In one review (Smith et al, 2003), researchers reviewed over 147 studies that questioned over 98,000 subjects. Their goal was to determine if a person’s amount of religiousness had any effect on depression or depressive symptoms, as well as perceived stress. Their conclusion showed a promising association between the two. The more religious a person was, the fewer depressive symptoms they experienced. Furthermore, they found that this inverse relationship between religiousness and depressive symptoms might be stronger during high-stress times. This was consistent with the conclusion that faith/spirituality mediated reactions to stress situations, particularly those potentially contributing to depression, a frequent reaction to prolonged stress.
There have been other studies as well on how faith/spirituality improves mood, which is helpful in stressful situations. Law et al (2009) studied church attendance and marital status in relation to mood among older adults. In the study, 791 older adults were followed for eight years. Researchers concluded that church attendance exhibited a protective effect with respect to the health of the older adults. It was further theorized that having a sense of purpose could explain this protective effect. There have been some studies showing a connection between spirituality and a slowing of the effects of dementing illness in older adults (Hill, 2006; Kaufman, Anaki, Binns, & Freedman, 2007). Explanations have been offered in terms of the buffering effects of the production of endorphins (hormones known to be related to feelings of well-being) in spiritual moments.
So, take heart that your faith/spirituality likely is helping you cope with stressors in your life. As always, good luck on your life's journey.
Dr. Paul Longobardi
For information on these and related topics please see my website at www.successandmindset.com. Again, for a copy of our book, please follow this link https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542458056