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Stress is defined as a person's response to his environment. Symptoms of stress
include exhaustion, loss of/increased appetite, headaches, crying,
sleeplessness, and oversleeping. Feelings of alarm, frustration, or apathy may
accompany stress. Working adults often face work-related stress. What is even
more alarming is that more and more children are also suffering from stress.
There are many ways in which we can reduce stress in our lives. Firstly, get up
fifteen minutes earlier each morning. That gives you a little more time to eat
something, run back to get something you may have forgotten, or enjoy a cup of
coffee before heading out the door. If you drive to work, a 15- or 20-minute
head start may mean facing less traffic, thus making the journey less stressful.
The next thing that we can do to reduce stress is to confide in someone we
trust. Don't keep things bottled up. Talking
with someone helps you to put things in better perspective. Who knows, they may
even have solutions to your problems. Do not be afraid to seek professional help
if you feel you have reached breaking point.
Besides that, learn how to relax. Meditation and breathing exercises have
proved to be very effective in controlling stress. Practice clearing your mind
of disturbing thoughts. The quickest and most effective way of eliminating
feelings of stress and panic is to close your eyes and take several long, slow,
deep breaths. Breathing in this way calms your whole nervous system.
Simultaneously, you could give yourself some mental pep-talk by mentally
repeating "I am calm and relaxed" or "I know I will be fine".
Finally, learn to set your priorities right and do not over-commit yourself.
People who are over-committed tend to feel overwhelmed and suffer. Reduce the
number of events going on in your life and you may reduce the circuit overload.
Set realistic goals for yourself and put it in writing. Do not worry over the
small stuff but reward yourself when you have been successful in achieving even
some small goals.
Some say that a little stress is good for you as it pushes you to react and
achieve your goals. On the other hand, when stress is prolonged, it causes
physical and emotional problems that may damage both your health and your
performance. Thus, it is important for us to learn how to handle our stress. |
