精美英文欣赏:直面压力

Confronting Stress

直面压力

Stress is defined as the body's response to any demand made upon it. Long ago, stress was a matter of survival. Increased pulse, breathing, and alertness kept our ancestors ready for dangers and prepared them to "run or fight".

压力被定义为人体根据外部需求产生的一种反应。在远古时代，压力使我们生存。加快跳动的脉搏和心跳以及警戒让我们的祖先对危险做出准备，并决定是战是逃。

Today stress result from negative and positive events. A job promotion¹ or graduation from college can be a positive stressful event. A job loss, financial troubles, or a death in the family can be a negative stressful event. Despite the different times, our body's reaction remains² the same as the caveman's.

如今，压力来源于一些正面或负面的事件。工作晋升或大学毕业带来的压力都是积极的，而失业，经济问题或者家庭成员死亡带来的压力都是消极的。尽管所处年代不同，但我们身体上的反应和前人是一样的。

Some of the effects that we experience from stress can include: depression, or feeling really sad about nothing in particular; anxiety, or a fear that makes you feel tense or nervous; anger, or a feeling of hostility³ towards persons or events; panic, or a feeling of losing control. Symptoms can include panic, sweating, dizziness, breathlessness, and palpitations. Stress can lower our immune systems and make our bodies more susceptible⁴ to infections, colds, and flu.

压力可产生以下后果：失落—莫名的伤感，焦虑—使你感到紧张的恐惧感，愤怒，对人对事抱有敌意，恐慌--感到失去控制。症状包括：恐慌流汗，头晕眼花，呼吸无力以及心慌气短。压力会降低我们免疫系统的能力，使我们更容易受到感染以及感冒和流感的侵袭。

Stress will always be a part of your life. It is important to recognize what gives you stress and learn how to control your responses to those thing that cause stress.

压力在生活中一直存在。很重要的一点就是要知道压力来自哪里，并且学会怎样控制面临压力时的反应。

Here is a list of the top ten stress-busters that you can use to manage your own stress:

下面列出了十个减压良方：

1. Try not to "self-medicate" with diet formulas, alcohol, or over-the-counter medicines such as sleeping pills. Covering up a problem can make the stress even worse.

1. 不要试着用饮食配方，酒精或安眠药等非处方药来自我治疗。掩盖问题反而会增加压力。

2. Do something just for yourself. A trip to the hair salon⁵, or having a massage⁶ can do wonders when you're under a lot of stress.

2. 为自己做点事情。去次发廊或者做次按摩都会在你感到压力时有所帮助。

3. Eat at least one hot meal a day. Good nutrition is important because it gives your body the fuel it needs to deal with daily stress.

3. 每天至少吃一次热餐。营养均衡十分关键，因为它为你的身体提供解决日常生活压力的能量。

4. Share how you are feeling with someone you can trust and who will listen to you. There is an old saying that "A joy shared is doubled, and a sorrow shared is halved⁷."

4. 与你信任的人或者能够倾听你故事的人分享下你的感受。常言道“快乐因分享而倍增, 忧伤因分享而减半。”

5. Exercising at least three days per week for at least 30 minutes each time improves your fitness and your sense of well being.

5. 每周至少运动三天，每次至少30分钟，这可以增强你的体质并使你感觉自我良好。

6. If you are a smoker⁸, stop smoking and start breathing clean air. Smoking and stress are a dangerous combination.

6. 如果你吸烟，那就戒了吧，呼吸下新鲜空气。在有压力时吸烟后果很危险。

7. If you are a coffee or cola lover, cut down on these and other drinks that contain caffeine.

7. 如果你喜欢喝咖啡或者可乐，那就不要再喝这些含有咖啡因的饮料了。

8. Learn and use relaxation⁹ exercises such as yoga, meditation¹⁰, or other stress-relieving activities of interest to you

8. 学习进行一些有益放松的运动，例如瑜伽，冥想或者其他你感兴趣的解压活动。

9. Laughter is the best medicine. It is. Laughing releases chemicals in the brain that help promote a relaxation response. Rent a comedy from a video store. Share it with friends and laugh your stress away.

9. 笑容是解压的特效药。真是这样。大笑使大脑释放化学物质，它可以生成一种放松的反应。去音像店租一张喜剧影片。和你的朋友们一起观看并把压力笑走。

10. Get regular physical exams. Your healthcare provider can spot health problems related to stress and can provide you with suggestions.

10. 定期检查身体。你的健康医师可以指出与压力相关的健康问题，并提供良好的建议。

1 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

4 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

5 salon   

n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室

参考例句：

• Do you go to the hairdresser or beauty salon more than twice a week?你每周去美容院或美容沙龙多过两次吗？
• You can hear a lot of dirt at a salon.你在沙龙上会听到很多流言蜚语。

6 massage   

n.按摩，揉；vt.按摩，揉，美化，奉承，篡改数据

参考例句：

• He is really quite skilled in doing massage.他的按摩技术确实不错。
• Massage helps relieve the tension in one's muscles.按摩可使僵硬的肌肉松弛。

7 halved   

v.把…分成两半( halve的过去式和过去分词 )；把…减半；对分；平摊

参考例句：

• The shares have halved in value . 股价已经跌了一半。
• Overall operating profits halved to $24 million. 总的营业利润减少了一半，降至2，400 万元。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 smoker   

n.吸烟者，吸烟车厢，吸烟室

参考例句：

• His wife dislikes him to be a smoker.他妻子不喜欢他当烟民。
• He is a moderate smoker.他是一个有节制的烟民。

9 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

10 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。