Stress in a war zone
New program will help locals living with chronic tension
After several years of living in Central Asia, CMF Marketplace Minister Mrs. R. knows a lot about stress and the toll it can take on your body. Now she’s planning to launch a program to help people manage the difficulties that come with living in a place where chronic, traumatic stress becomes a normal part of life.
“I have a good support system, my faith, an in-depth knowledge about health, people to talk to, even counselors, and yet at times I struggle to cope,” said Mrs. R. “But the locals who I know or have worked with endure much more stress than I often do and don’t have many of those tools, so I want to change that.”
Always on edge
Mrs. R. and her husband live in a society that is always on edge and doesn’t have positive ways of dealing with things.
“Drug addiction rates are skyrocketing, resources for mental health care are minimal, distrust limits sharing, and joblessness and violence are on the increase,” she said.
Mrs. R. has interviewed a number of people to research their understanding of stress and the symptoms they experience.
“Most of them appreciated an outlet to even just talk about the struggles and successes of their lives,” she said. “New knowledge and awareness lead to empowerment. My aim is to empower people with essential information that will affect their overall well-being.”
|