Coping with stress

We all have stress in our lives. The frantic pace of today's society means that we are stretched too thin. We have too much on our to do list and little time to ponder. Like too little butter on a piece of bread there are gaps and the edges are not covered leaving us vulnerable to dry patches.

Some people have more stress in their lives than others. Family situation, illness, injury and economic factors are all causes of stress. Add to that workload and trying to find a work/life balance and it is easy to find that we are fraying at the seams. 

Short term stressors can give a burst of energy (this is your flight or fight response kicking in) to help you meet a challenge (think 'run away from a lion'). But humans are not designed to live in a steady-state of stress. There is no doubt that long-term stress is bad for your health. Mentally, physically, emotionally; stress affects every part of our bodies. Stress raises cortisol levels and

There are people that cope well with lots of simultaneous stressful situations and others that flake at the first sight of it. The key to coping with stress is to retain perspective. Perspective is everything. The way you look at things is so important.

And, aside from trying to gain a little perspective on what's stressing you there are things you can do to alleviate stress:

1. Figure out exactly what is stressing you. If you have more than one source of chronic stress, list them down.
2. Develop a plan of attack. Make a commitment to remove the source/s of stress or change your life so the effect is reduced.
3. Focus on positive relationships. Spend time with people that make you feel good about yourself and your life.
4. Rest. Not only your body but your mind. Find what feeds your soul (walking, yoga, art, dance) and do it more often.
5. When you are in a stressful situation, breathe. Practice deep breathing. Consciously fill your lungs up and empty them out. If visualization helps you, imagine letting go of all the things that cause you stress as you exhale.
6. Get help. If you've tried to remove stress from your life and you're not getting anywhere. Or if you have so many sources of stress that, even with the above techniques, you are feeling overwhelmed speak to a professional. Your GP can be a good place to start but most don't have the specialized skills required. See a reputable psychologist. Sometimes talking to someone who has no connection to your day to day life is all you need to find your way through.