Barry Egan, the central character in P.T. Anderson’s new film “Punch-Drunk Love,” is a man beleaguered by his life: he has emotional problems, family problems and stress problems. Constantly defending himself from what he sees as attacks by others, he cannot handle the stress and breaks down every so often. The results are shattered windows, holes in walls, wrecked public bathrooms …
Besides the maniacal outbursts, Barry Egan is a character we can understand. He constantly is faced with a barrage of stress day after day. His sisters badger him incessantly, and his social life is inhibited severely. He has to deal with the problems and stress that accompany responsibility. In that respect, he is just like any one of us.
Stress encompasses our lives. Mine is built around it. Our jobs contribute to it, significant others contribute to it, school contributes to it. We have deadlines, tests, papers and people to deal with. We have people we don’t like to deal with. We have people who don’t like to deal with us. Stress is everywhere. It goes hand-in-hand with responsibility.
Stress is not necessarily difficult to handle. You don’t have to end up sobbing over a textbook in a stairwell one hour before a chemistry test because you didn’t study for it or hugging your knees and rocking back and forth gently weeks after your boy/girlfriend cut you loose. Managing stress is simple, and it returns your energy and vitality.
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