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Stress Management
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No
one’s life is free from stress. Stress gives energy to our lives. It provides the catalyst,
to keep us constantly challenged and to help us grow and
change. When we successfully conquer stressful situations,
we gain a feeling of competence, which in turn increases our
self-esteem. On
the down side, when not properly handled, stress can leave
us feeling drained, defeated, and incompetent. |
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So
what exactly is stress?
The dictionary definition of stress is, “to subject
to physical or mental pressure, tension, or strain.”
Stress occurs when you are challenged to utilize all of your
resources to reach a solution. |
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Why
do some people seem to have such a low tolerance for stress
while others’ seem to thrive in stressful situations?
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How we
respond to stress is based on a number of factors.
How you were raised to view and deal with stress
plays a major role in how you will react to it.
In addition, your personality type will influence
your tolerance level. Overall,
your ability to cope is influenced by both your biological
makeup and learned coping skills. |
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So
if you never learned positive ways of coping with stress as
a child- can you learn these things as an adult?
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Yes, it
is entirely possible to learn new ways of coping with
stress. Keep in
mind that old habits are hard to break, so be patient with
your self. |
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What
can I do to stop being stressed out all the time?
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Take care
of yourself. Maintain
a proper diet and exercise regimen. Maintain rituals and have a safe place you can retreat to
recharge your energies when needed. Create a haven at home
and work. Personalize your space to create a soothing, safe
environment. |
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Most
importantly, slow down! Don’t rush from one activity to another or feel your day
must be packed with activities.
Your body needs down time.
Spend some time in complete silence and solitude,
letting your thoughts flow and expand.
Find activities you enjoy and do them as often as you
can. Create a
strong social support system.
Sometimes hearing another’s perspective on a
problem can open your mind to new possibilities.
Learn relaxation techniques and other tools to assist
you when feeling stressed. Try not to get so caught up in
the past or future, that you’re not appreciating what you
have in the present. Plan
for the future, make peace with your past, but realize that
the present moment is the only reality you can be assured of
living- so treasure it. When you learn to relax and enjoy
the small things in your life, you learn to prioritize the things that really matter. |
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I am a
single parent, and am constantly on edge- my job and kids
require me to constantly be moving, I can’t slow down or
things will never get done. |
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You would
be surprised to know that you can slow down and things will
get done. We often think if we are not running around, and
moving fast, that time is wasted.
However, time is really wasted due to poor
organizational skills. When you rush through things, you
tend to make mistakes, often having to go back and redo
something twice. Plan
your day to maximize your time. Many times we create extra
trips or work for ourselves, because of poor planning.
Things tend to go better for us when we are
organized. Get
up a little earlier in the morning, so you can start your
day relaxed and slow. Establish
a relaxing morning ritual, as opposed to frantically rushing
around your house to avoid being late. Listen to your
favorite singer or books on tape, on your way to work.
Take a scenic route, making your drive enjoyable.
Devise a fun car game or songs you can sing with your kids.
You set the tone for your day, based on how you start your
morning. You will soon notice that life is calmer and you
will be better able to handle unexpected stress, when you
make slight changes in your daily patterns. |
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A
friend of mine says she is never stressed, is that possible
to never be stressed over anything?
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Your
friend may not recognize when she is stressed, but as long
as you are living you will experience stress. Stress is impossible to avoid, but possible to handle, when
you create a soothing environment for yourself, and are
equipped with coping skills and support. |
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