I’ve just read that there is an alarming rise of stress-related health problems. I didn’t see any specific figures, which is just as well. Just telling me that it’s a “bunch” is good enough.



Relative to this, a Dr. Richard Weinstein has just written a book, “The Stress Effect,” claiming he knows all about stress and what to do about it.



We’ve been hearing about increased stress for at least the past 30 years, but it wasn’t invented that recently. I’m pretty sure Gen. George Armstrong Custer suffered some stress. I think there was a good bit of it going on at the Alamo, too.



Maybe even King Solomon had some of it. After all, look how many wives he had.



I’ve read that stress can bring on that health problem known as “shingles.” I’ve had some of that.



I’ve often wondered why this ailment had this name. I was told that the scaly skin that results resembles shingles. But one fellow told me that he was in such agony that his shouts of pain ripped the shingles right off the roof. He figured that’s where the name came from. Pick one.



One of the major causes of stress has been defined in layman’s terms as “keeping up with the Joneses.”



Now I’ve known people who viewed success in terms of three-car garages, which clubs they belong to and how big a wedding they can throw for their daughters. Consequently, stress is often a byproduct.



I think we all suffer stress at some level. I think many of us worry if in the end we will owe money to our 401Ks. Thus stress and worry are the same.



It’s been said that worry is useless — that if you’ve done the best you can do, then you should not worry. This advice generally comes from someone who’s had a lot of things going his way. Funny how it works that way.



I think to worry is human. But some people worry about everything. I’ve known people who might bite their nails to the quick over whether to wear white shoes after Labor Day.



I don’t worry at that level. Wearing a black belt with brown trousers doesn’t trip my meter. In fact, I did it last Sunday. My wife was the only one bothered by it. My thought was that black and tan go together on hounds, why not on trousers?



I try to adhere to that old saying about “not sweating the small stuff.” I once crossed swords with a fellow, and I was told by an observer that I had better watch out — that this person was a “little rooster.” My response was that little roosters were of little concern to me. It was “big roosters” I kept an eye on. I just don’t sweat the little roosters.



I do believe that exercise will help release stress, although it won’t make your 401K look any better.



And I’m not convinced that kicking something isn’t a viable short-term therapy. Choice of objects is crucial, however, and you certainly shouldn’t do this during one of those gout episodes. No sirree Bob, you wouldn’t want gout and shingles at the same time.



I’ve never tried yoga, but I think sitting in the porch swing and listening to the bullfrogs works just as well to relieve stress.



I don’t think you cure stress, I think you just control it.



But I’m always open to suggestions on these kinds of things, and I’ll probably pick up a copy of Dr. Weinstein’s book because it looks like the Atlanta Falcons might not win but one game this entire season, which means next year will be another one of those infamous “rebuilding seasons.” That’s a phrase which basically means “we’re on rock bottom and we’ve got no place to go but up.” Except maybe in case of the Falcons, they seemingly have become well adjusted to their lack of altitude all these years. Apparently, it’s their way of handling the stress. They started out on the bottom and they like it there.



Dwain Walden is editor/publisher of The Moultrie Observer, 985-4545. E-mail: dwain.walden@gaflnews.com.