How to cope with stress

Do you feel that everything is too much, are you overloaded and do you wonder whether you can cope with all the pressure placed up on you? It may seem that there´s nothing you can do about stress. But you can. Give your self a minute or two and take a deep breath. Managing stress is all about taking charge of your thoughts and emotions.

Stress is a normal physical response to what makes you feel threatened. It is called fight, flight or freeze reactions and is your body´s way to protect you. Stress can keep you on your toes and help you to meet challenges. But when the stress gets to much it can starts to cause damages to you health. Chronic stress can raise blood pressure, suppress your immune system and increased the risk of heart attack.

It is really important for your mental and physical health to manage your stress. On the website HelpGuide.org are some good advise about stress management. One of the HelpGuide advices are the four As.

Avoid unnecessary stress. Not all stress can be avoided, but by learning how to say no, distinguishing between “shoulds” and “musts” on your to-do list, and steering clear of people or situations that stress you out, you can eliminate many daily stressors.

Alter the situation. If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Be more assertive and deal with problems head on. Instead of bottling up your feelings and increasing your stress, respectfully let others know about your concerns. Or be more willing to compromise and try meeting others halfway on an issue.

Adapt to the stressor. When you can’t change the stressor, try changing yourself. Reframe problems or focus on the positive things in your life. If a task at work has you stressed, focus on the aspects of your job you do enjoy. And always look at the big picture: is this really something worth getting upset about?

Accept the things you can’t change. There will always be stressors in life that you can’t do anything about. Learn to accept the inevitable rather than rail against a situation and making it even more stressful. Look for the upside in a situation—even the most stressful circumstances can be an opportunity for learning or personal growth. Learn to accept that no one, including you, is ever perfect.

HelpGuide does also have four good advises on coping with the symptoms of stress by strengthening your physical health. Those four advises are:

• Set aside relaxation time
• Exercise regularly
• Eat a healthy diet
• Get plenty of sleep

Take control on your stress by mastering the HelpGuides skills and face your challenges with strength and balance. We wish you the best of luck!