Destression! I just heard that word used for the first time today and had to get it out there before it wound up like “octomom," “perfect storm” and “____is the new____”. Feel free to add it to your own vocabulary. Do it now before you’re one of those people who, like me, caught on too late and still says “What the shizzle?”
Defined, in the context as I understood it today, Destression refers to the depression and stress one feels as result of the economic recession. One might say, “All this worrying over job security, saving money and not having my regular massage has put me into a state of destression."
This word was being batted about in a meeting about philanthropic grants; finding them, getting them and wondering which ones will go away. There is a lot of worry over programs being cut since no one is able to fund — let’s just say — the arts for children. Everyone was destressed (yes, it can be used as an adjective too! Isn’t that great?). I wondered if it was a real word. Maybe they use it on CNN or MSNBC, but I can tell you, it hasn’t made it to Today yet. So, meeting adjourned, I went to my computer and googled it. Only 341 hits.
I think before long we will see Dr. Sanjay Gupta reporting cases of destression are on the rise. There will be a graphic of what we can do to combat destression in our own lives. The bullet points will include such wise and completely un-obvious items as: Spend more active time with family and friends, take walks in your local park, prepare meals using fresh local produce, perhaps from your own vegetable garden, and practice meditation.
What the shizzle?! Cooking dinner for a bunch of people using stuff I pulled out of the dirt in my backyard or tromping through Florida heat isn’t stress? Or depressing? I will be having none of it, thank you very much. Unless there is a new prescription to cure it.
This article appears in Apr 22-28, 2009.