Yonsei Opens Stress Management Course
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Modern people all try to reduce stress in their daily lives.
However, Kim Dong-goo, the president of Korea Stress Association (KSA), has a unique view on ``getting rid of'' stress.
``Stress refers to all environmental stimuli we receive, and not all stress is bad. There is controllable stress as well as uncontrollable stress. If we successfully control stress, it works as a positive stimulus for our body and mind,'' Kim said at an interview with The Korea Times.
Kim is a professor for the Department of Pharmacology in the College of Medicine at Yonsei University. Kim was interested in stress for his doctoral thesis. However, in the 1980s, there was no research on stress in Korea, so after completing his doctoral course in Korea, Kim went abroad for further study, completing another doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota.
``Koreans are facing stress from various situations. One major source is work. Research shows that approximately 93 percent of workers are under serious pressure in their job. It is much higher than 40 percent in the United States or Japan's 63 percent,'' said Kim. ``For example, in the U.S., businesses must take on stress management programs for its employees. Employers may have considered a few hours of stress managing courses as a loss, but they resulted in productivity increases.''
Kim recommends rather simple ways to control daily stress instead of difficult techniques. The first is taking deep breaths. ``Breathe in deeply for four seconds and breath out long and slowly for six seconds,'' he suggested.
This might sound too easy to relive stress, but it is scientifically supported. ``Deep respiration makes the autonomic nervous system revert to it's baseline. The nervous system is greatly affected by emotional state, but deep breathing resets it. So when you get scolded from your boss, take a deep breath before you get angry,'' said Kim.
The other method is changing one's focus. ``People spend too much time regretting the past and worrying about the future. It does not help anything.
Smell the fresh air you are breathing now and taste the food you are chewing now. That's the happiness we seek,'' Kim said.
``It is time to use scientific, evidence-based methods to control stress. That is why I started the Korea Stress Association,'' Kim said.
KSA provides personal stress management counseling through its homepage (www.koreastress.com). Anyone can ask for personalized stress management. In addition, the association will develop and distribute its program for businesses, the military and caregivers. There will be seminars on stress as well.
Kim offers as ``Stress Management'' course at Yonsei University Extension as well. The course introduces various methods to control stress such as meditation, musical therapy and exercising. It is a 16-week course at 7:00 p.m. every Tuesday, starting March. Kim plans to provide advanced courses later at the KSA.
``It is just a beginning for stress management in Korea. I want everyone to know how to control their stress and enjoy a better life,'' Kim said with a smile.