I am hearing a new phrase repeated throughout our nation today, they are saying we are no longer “One Nation, Under God!” but “One Nation, Under Stress!” I talk to a lot of people on a regular basis and hear them say, “I am exhausted,” You can look at their eyes and see that they are overwhelmed. They keep saying things like, “All I have to do is make it to this month and then I can relax!” But then they get to that month they discover that it is as busy and as over whelming as the last 6 months were. They seem to be trapped in the endless cycle of stress, and busyness. So the drip goes on hitting them in the forehead day after day after day. They are deceived with the idea that they have to continue doing more, more and more. There is in their minds some grandiose view that it’s good for them and their family to stay this stressed. It’s good for them to keep their heads under the steady drip of stress and busyness.
Dr. Don Colbert wrote a book called Stress Less in which he tackles the problem of stress in our society. Listen to a few observations he has made as a Medical Doctor. “Did you know that 75 to 90 percent of all visits to a primary care physician’s office are related to stress disorders? That’s according to the American Institute of Stress. What is driving us to the shelves of pharmacy? Feelings of stress! Americans are consuming five billion tranquilizers, five billion barbiturates, three billion amphetamines, and sixteen tons of aspirin every year. Much of this “medicine” is being taken to help alleviate stress or the resulting headaches and pain associated with stress” (5)!