Stress
management
is an important part of any person’s life. Figuring
out why
you feel stressed to begin with is crucial if you want to learn how to
avoid it. Maybe it’s your job, an unhealthy
relationship,
or even money issues that are causing it. It is not uncommon
for
a person to feel stressed out and not sure of why they feel that
way. If you are unsure as to why you are feeling this, it can
help to keep a journal handy and write in it every time you feel
stressed. Write about any event that may have happened, how
it
affected you, what your response was to the event and how you can
change your response (if necessary) the next time.
It is
important to note that not all stress is bad. Stress is any
type
of burden put upon our bodies and can be physical or mental.
Good
stress is called eustress and can help a person to compete better in
the workforce, athletic events, and even when public
speaking.
Eustress gives a person a feeling of competitiveness that can result in
mood boosting feelings of accomplishment.
Not all stress is
recognizable. A woman may have dreamed of her wedding day
since
childhood, but as the day draws near, there is so much to do.
There is a major change taking place in her life even if it is a wanted
change. It can be a very stressful event. The woman
may be
incredibly happy, but it is stressful nonetheless.
Different people
experience stress in different situations. Events that some
people may thrive on may be the exact same events that cause others to
want to shut down. For example, many people enjoy the demands
of
high pressure work with deadlines while others prefer to accomplish
things in their own time at a much more leisurely pace.
While some stress
is good for our bodies, too much can lead to health
problems.
These problems can include: heart disease, problems with the digestive
system, depression and low desire, eating disorders, and even episodes
of pain. Although it is yet unproven, it is believed that
many
diseases can be traced back to stress. Many people find they
have
a hard time sleeping as well.
If you are feeling
stressed it is important to learn to find the right balance between bad
stress and eustress. If your bad stress is affecting you it
is
affecting your health. Understanding there are several coping
strategies you can learn can help to get you through most situations.
Here are a few
techniques to get you started:
Keeping your
stress journal handy can help to identify any triggers you may have and
help you to see how you are dealing with those triggers.
Avoid any
situations or events that you know may increase stress. If
you
are unable to avoid the situation, remove yourself as soon as
possible.
Talking about
what is bothering you can be a great way to release emotions that you
may otherwise be bottling up. Asking a friend or relative to
just
listen while you vent may be the best medicine. The more you
keep
in, the more it can keep building up.
Exercise is a
great way to release any built up tension that may be causing you
stress. When you are physically active your body releases
endorphins which are hormones that trigger a natural high
feeling. This can cause a person to feel good and temporarily
forget about any stress.
There are
many ways in which a person can relax. For some it may be
taking
time to go to the beach, for others a long walk may be the right
answer. But if you want to do some serious relaxation and
help to
heal your body, one of the best ways to facilitate this is with meditation.
Meditation has been proven to increase oxygen to the
brain, lower blood pressure, lessen anxiety and calm the
mind.
The benefits can be felt immediately and with just several 15-30 minute
sessions a week a person can begin to feel calm throughout daily life.
Keeping track
of what is bothering you and using the tools listed above
can help you to overcome any stress you may be experiencing in your
life. Dealing with stress is a not an overnight quick fix,
but
rather a process that takes time.
Knowing you have
options for
dealing with stress can in itself cause the stress to lessen.
You
can utilize one or any combination of the tools to help restore your
body to a healthy, happy state.
