Coping With Stress – Do You Know How Stressed You Are?

Coping With Stress – Do You Know How Stressed You Are?

What Is Stress

Everyone seems to have a view on stress, it has become so popular. Are you stressed or does it not affect you at all? How do you cope with stress? Do you believe that managing stress is important, or do you think that it is a ‘buzz’ word, used as a convenient excuse? Are you living outside your comfort zone? What is stress anyway?

Basically stress is caused by our need to adapt to change. The change can be positive or negative. If we feel uncomfortable about any new situation, or challenge, then we begin to experience stress. It is not the circumstances themselves, but our attitude to them, which causes the symptoms. As soon as we are in a situation that we feel is potentially threatening than our ‘fight or flight’ response switches on. Our breathing rate and heart rate increase, muscles tense up, blood pressure rises and adrenaline and cortisol are released into the bloodstream.

In other words, we are on full alert. This is a natural reaction that has been with us since primitive times to get us out of danger. The difference is that after the danger was over, a primitive man would go back to his hut, sit in front of his fire, and switch off again. Then all his bodily systems would return to normal. These days we tend to be switched on, tense, and rushed all the time. Because of the pace and intensity of the lives we lead, we suffer from the increasing pressure of work and never seem to be able to take time to really relax and let our bodies re-balance.

Effects And Types Of Stress

We are often told how stress is bad for us, and it is true that excessive stress has many negative effects, but if we experienced a complete absence of stress we may not put in the extra effort needed to attain our personal goals and desires.

In fact, we may not even feel motivated enough to get out of bed in the morning! We can accept that some stress is inevitable and it can also be used to a beneficial effect.

We experience many different types and levels of stress in our lives, de-stress, often described as “good” stress, the type of stress you may experience if you won the lottery for example (you may not think that coming into a lot of money would cause stress, but people who have been in that position report significant stress while dealing with major changes). Dis-stress is when we lose something, or someone, important to us. We feel as if our world is coming to an end. If we constantly experience levels of stress that are too high for us to cope with, then physical, mental, emotional, and energetic symptoms will become increasingly apparent.

What To Do About Stress

So what is the cure? First, take an honest look at your life with the help of our stress analysis pages. Then decide which areas of your life need attention. Begin to take steps right now to help yourself to a happier, more fulfilling, and healthier life.

Decide on your short and long term goals.

Improve your physical health with sports or exercise, this releases stress and improves self-esteem.

Manage your time effectively, get properly organized!

Eat a balanced diet; perhaps include a supplement of ‘B’ vitamins.

Avoid or cut down on stimulants like caffeine and nicotine.

Learn to be assertive, not aggressive.

Don’t take everything so personally.

Remember — everything you do does not need to be perfect, you are only human.

Communicate more clearly with others and yourself.

Life isn’t an emergency. Keep a sense of humor and enjoy the little everyday things that make you smile and provide a sense of comfort and ease.

Relevant Hashtags: #stress #anxiety #mentalhealth #depression #peace #sleep #stressrelief #wellness #love #selfcare #stressmanagement #burnout #relax

Author Image
Rachel Berne

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *