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Dealing With Stress
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There are many ways that stress controls us. We develop physical symptoms such as digestive disorders, insomnia, fatigue, muscle aches and headaches. Many of these symptoms can lead to serious illnesses like heart disease and cancer.
Our behavior can also be affected by excessive anxiety. We become negative, irritable, hopeless and depressed. We "soothe" ourselves with cigarettes, alcohol, food and drugs.
By taking responsibility for our lives, we can break the stress habit. Any sense of control and purpose we gain will alleviate hopelessness and increase self-esteem.
Know Your Stressors
Dealing with stress consciously means knowing what the cause is. Sometimes this takes deep reflection. It may be something or someone from the past. It could be our job. It could be our spouse, friend or family. Maybe it is not living the life you want.
We could be faced with many stressors. Write down what they are. What is most urgent? Can I get rid of it? Can I change it? Or, can I change my reaction to it?
Change Your Thoughts
Developing good stress coping skills involves changing how we think about our stressors. We may be suffering needlessly because of irrational thinking. Stressful thoughts can be changed with:
· Acceptance - Accept what you cannot control. For instance, "My boss is a very critical person. That is just how he is and I can't change him."
· Attitude - Focus on the positive side. "My boss is very critical but he supports many charities which I admire."
· Perspective - Keep things in perspective. Don't worry unnecessarily. "My boss is very critical and he may fire me!" Instead, think of it this way, "My boss is critical but I have always gotten great reviews for my work."
· Forgiveness - Let go of your resentment. "My boss was very critical of me today. I forgive him. I am not going to let him get to me because I enjoy my job and do good work."
Change Your Actions
Dealing with stress through our actions envelops many areas of our lives. We can take control of our health, time, money, relationships and work.
· Manage time wisely - Do you have too much on your plate? Let something go. Learn to say no. Keep things simple. Make lists. Give up perfection.
· Create balance - Your life should not be all about work. Your family, friends, recreation, health and reflection need attention as well in order to create a full, joyful life.
· Eat healthy and exercise - Both of these will greatly enhance your ability to control stress. Go for a walk. Follow a balanced diet. Participate in a fun sport.
· Learn how to relax - Break the stress habit. Do deep breathing, a heart math method, yoga positions or positive affirmations.
· Communicate wisely - To avoid disagreements and arguments, learn how to express negative emotions in a more positive way. Instead of saying, "You are so messy. Why don't you pick up after yourself." You could say, "It would really help me out if you would put your things away. Thank you."
· Build a support system - Dealing with stress is much easier if we have friends and family to share our feelings with. They can give us support, counsel and companionship in times of need.
· Manage money - Sometimes our biggest stresses can be financial. Since it is such a common concern, there are many sources of guidance for creating budgets, generating extra income, investing and prosperity thinking. Creating financial stability greatly reduces anxiety.
In order to manage stress, we need to take back control. That means we need to do a little work and reflection. You can make an action plan for dealing with stress. Start with listing your stressors. Then, using the guidelines above, plan your attack. Do something small today to shift the control back to your corner.
Making these changes will give you a sense of empowerment. Change is good when it means positively shifting the outlook on and respect for your life. You can do it!
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