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Issues you may be facing
Dealing with feelings of sadness after the breakup of a relationship | Learning to understand and deal with symptoms of clinical depression | Steps to take to get help | Learning how to deal with stress
Learning how to deal with stress
Whether we like it or not, stress is definitely a part of our modern world. It seems that a lot of people are living lives where they have too many responsibilities and too little time. Not only is it frustrating to feel this way - it's usually not all that good for your health.
Classic symptoms of stress include:
- feeling nervous and jumpy
- exhaustion
- worrying all the time
- having trouble falling asleep
- being apprehensive
- resorting to drugs
and alcohol to "settle your
nerves"
- being impatient and cranky
- having difficulty concentrating
- skipping from one thought or activity to another without resolving anything
If you are experiencing any of the above, this can be a signal that you have to back off and reevaluate your commitments and lifestyle. Modern living tends to encourage pressure, over-commitment and stress. In moderate doses, stress isn't a bad thing - it gives us the energy to perform and achieve. But in excess it can make us unproductive and threaten our health and our enjoyment of life.
If you think you may be stressed out, it's worth pausing and taking stock. If you conclude stress is harming your quality of life, you may have to do some reevaluation of your commitments and priorities. None of us can be all things to all people. It often feels like there isn't enough to go around - sometimes we have to prioritize and let some things go undone.
Here are a few things that you can try:
- Stop and think what you do to relax.
- Exercise and physical activity are
excellent ways of releasing stress, as is a healthy diet. You
might also want to consider cutting down on your caffeine intake.
Coffee, tea and colas should be taken in moderation.
- Smoking cigarettes is likely to add
a health risk, which is a high price to pay for trying to "settle
your nerves."
- Taking breaks and treating yourself
well have been shown to increase productivity. People in
high gear usually burn out. People who take breaks during lunch
and leave work on time usually do better. You may feel like you
can't afford to take time off but you can't afford not to.
- People will commonly dabble with drugs and alcohol to relax but in excess they are not effective and could potentially add another problem to your list.
