ABSTRACT
Over the same time period that Tom’s exercise decreased and his weight increased, Tom was aware of a gradual increase in his level of stress. After the birth of their third child, Tom and his wife agreed that she would quit her job and devote herself full time to the care of their children. Tom felt pressure to make up for the lost income by working harder. The quarterly bonus checks Tom receives if he reaches his sales quota used to be used to buy extras or to pay for vacations. Tom now depends upon the quarterly bonus checks to pay down the balance on his credit cards. Tom feels it is getting harder and harder to compete with the younger sales representatives. He is also acutely aware that most of the salespeople he started with have either moved on to other companies or moved up to managerial positions. Tom wonders whether he has been looked over for promotions because of his race. Feeling greater stress, Tom has become more irritable, quicker to snap at his wife and children. He feels that his wife is not as supportive of him as she once was and that his marriage is deteriorating.
