Center for Healthy Living workshop to focus on stress management

Stress management is the focus of on upcoming workshop series at the Center for Healthy Living on the West Lafayette campus. The six-week series, which begins Aug. 3 and meets on Wednesdays through Sept. 7, is available to benefits-eligible faculty and staff and spouses/same-sex domestic partners covered on a Purdue medical plan.

Cheryl Laszynski, registered nurse, certified health and wellness coach at the Center for Healthy Living, is leading the workshop series and acknowledges the need to address this prevalent topic. According to Laszynski, a majority of people in today's world are directly or indirectly affected by stress -- at work, home or both.

"Due to the physical effects on our bodies, it is important to manage stress," Laszynski says. "Stress symptoms can present in a variety of ways, including headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, muscle tension, pain or fatigue. It can cause both mental and physical exhaustion and also has been linked to leading causes of death due to heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, lung ailments and cancer."

During the workshop sessions, Laszynski will help participants identify their sources of stress, learn how their bodies and minds react to stress and identify strategies for balancing work and home life demands. Information will be provided on how mindfulness, self-care, relaxation techniques and building resilience can be used to help better control busy lives and the associated stress that might present itself. 

Classes will meet from noon to 12:50 p.m. on the following dates (please note the room is not the same for all classes):

* Aug. 3: Stewart Center, Room 311.

* Aug. 10: Stewart Center, Room 311.

* Aug. 17: Stewart Center, Room 307.

* Aug. 24: Stewart Center, Room 307.

* Aug. 31: Stewart Center, Room 311.

* Sept. 7: Stewart Center, Room 311.                                                               

Register by July 29 by calling 49-45505. To provide better interaction with the presenter, limited seats are available for this small group format.

The center is open for medical appointments 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Lab hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For medical consultation after hours or on weekends, contact the Anthem nurse line at 888-279-5449 for assistance.