Health Behavior Journal

Health Behavior Journal

Health Behavior Journal

When I first began tracking my level of stress on Wednesday October 1st I did not think I would have that much. I am an avid runner, and I work out quite frequently. As some people may or may not know exercise is a great form or release of stress; for me it is like meditation. Stress Management How To Reduce, Prevent, And Cope With Stress" (2014)

That being said this is my perceived benefit. There was not a whole lot of stress to note even in the car in traffic, at work, my home life, etc. That is until my wonderful loving husband got in the car while I was driving He is my perceived barrier. On Wednesday Oct 1th. We had attended a get together, it was about 22:00, and he was tired from work so I offered to drive… I thought I might kill him! (figure of speech of course) He makes noises and hollers like I am a new teenage driver. He actually almost caused me to get into an accident. My stress level has never been so high! I actually got out of the car a little shaky. Naturally my own confidence in my driving was being questioned. I thought to myself “did I do something wrong?” ("Health Behavior And Health Education Theory, Research, And Practice,” 2014).

I proceeded to monitor my reaction to his behavior, and his behavior in the car because; this is an entirely new behavior for him. His backseat driving is something that is a new mystery since coming home from deployment, so of course I am not only intrigue by it, but stressed by it as well. The obvious cues to action were my husband being in the car while I was driving and my perceived benefit was to exercise or run before I get in the car with him. When I am driving, and he is the car, I am a ball of stress. Below I have drawn up a graphic visual of how stressed I was, and how I was able to adapt to his “backseat driving”. ("Health Behavior And Health Education Theory, Research, And Practice,” 2014).

As you can see by the graph below in the beginning my stress level was at the highest point, as I learned to find my “happy place” in the car while driving I soon began to tune my husband’s noises, of irrational freaking out- out. After all I have been driving for twenty-one years with no accidents. There has got to be a reason for that right? Self- Efficacy restored ("Health Behavior And Health Education Theory, Research, And Practice,” 2014).

As I keep meditating in my happy place while driving I am also trying to notice my husbands behavior while I am driving. Oct 4th at approximately 14:30 we went out for a shopping venture where I took the wheel yet again, as he is not real great with directions and does not know the area quite as well as I do yet. I was going to make a turn and he screamed “Joanna NO!!!” So naturally I slammed on my breaks, veered then turned, while also hitting the median. (Now do you understand my stress!) He apparently thought I was going the wrong way on the highway. My Stress was definitely 100 percent at this time and my heart was pounding out of my chest.

After that I took a few days from driving with hubby, as I thought it was a bit stressful on both of us, plus I was out of town for a few days. When I returned I was ready to get back in the car on the 10th around 18:20, this time I was prepared for anything. I had just had a nice long run, I was in a great meditative place, and again there he goes. However my reaction was not as bad. I did bother me as much, but I really just ignored him moreless. Oct 12th was even better again it was after a long run; I am always able to think clearer after a good long run. I was able to tune out his discontent with my driving abilities, while also suggesting he drive instead. This enabled me to better observe him in his element. He was fine driving, however parking was a different story. My husband will park next to no one all of the sudden, in the middle of nowhere parking. (This is not like him) but if I ask him, he says you love to exercise.

On Oct 13 at approximately 15:07 we went for some errands I drove the first part of our venture, however switched driving seats with him. When it was time to park, we again went to no mans land. So I spoke up and mentioned that we had heavy items this time, and spotted several closers spots. He seamed nervous and anxious. I have never really seen my husband like this before. Which made me a little nervous or stressed of course. Then I saw him, I saw him struggling to see. He can’t see and he was embarrassed and lacked self-efficacy to admit he could not see, now I am not sure if this is a “man” thing or just a I am getting old macho thing, However I feel that sometimes men do not have the confidence or self efficacy after a certain age. Of all the things, no wonder he is scared to death in the car, he is seeing a completely different picture than I am. He apologized for not saying anything, and for scaring me. My stress level automatically went to zero when I realized he just couldn’t see.

I did learn that I am able to able to manage all kinds of stressful situations under all kinds of pressure even while playing detective. I feel that it is incredibly important to have some sort of an outlet for stress whether it is exercise, meditation, talking to someone, going to a shooting range…etc. It is vital that you relieve your stress in some way shape or form. I found that I was able to see things clearer, I was able to focus more on the road, less on the noises my husband was making, I was able to make quick rational decisions, and my reflexes were in tune to all of my decisions. As we can see from the graph my stress dramatically decreased with my go to “coping mechanism” –running. My stress was also more manageable when I felt there was something different about my husband’s behavior. My concerns were no longer for me, but for him. There was a lot of risk involved in getting in the car with my husband; after all we could have been in an accident. However having enough self-efficacy to manage my stress, while solving a problem in a quasi- relaxed state was the key. Stress Management How To Reduce, Prevent, And Cope With Stress" (2014)

Reference:

Health Behavior and Health Education THEORY, RESEARCH, AND PRACTICE. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.med.upenn.edu/hbhe4/part2-ch3-main-constructs.shtml

Stress Management How to Reduce, Prevent, and Cope with Stress. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-management.htm

_1348603309.xls

Chart1

Oct 1 22:00 Day1	Oct 1 22:00 Day1	Oct 1 22:00 Day1
Oct 4 14:30 day 2	Oct 4 14:30 day 2	Oct 4 14:30 day 2
Oct 10 18:20 Day 3	Oct 10 18:20 Day 3	Oct 10 18:20 Day 3
Oct 11 13:41Day 4	Oct 11 13:41Day 4	Oct 11 13:41Day 4
Oct 12 16:21 day 5	Oct 12 16:21 day 5	Oct 12 16:21 day 5
Oct 13 15:07Day 6	Oct 13 15:07Day 6	Oct 13 15:07Day 6

Start

Middle

End

100

100

100

100

80

80

80

80

60

60

60

50

40

30

30

30

20

10

Sheet1

Stress Level	Start	Middle	End
Oct 1 22:00 Day1	100	100	100
Oct 4 14:30 day 2	100	80	80
Oct 10 18:20 Day 3	80	80	60
Oct 11 13:41Day 4	60	60	50
Oct 12 16:21 day 5	40	30	30
Oct 13 15:07Day 6	30	20	10
	To update the chart, enter data into this table. The data is automatically saved in the chart.