Pressure, Stress and Relaxation
Stress is a part of normal life. It is the everyday experience of trying to cope with the demands put upon us such as children, managing the house, finances and a job.
Certain things can add to our stress levels e.g. moving house, changing jobs, money or relationship problems.
A certain amount of stress can be positive. Without it, life would become tedious and dull. We need to be challenged and stimulated. Different people react in different ways to the pressures of life. Some thrive on the adrenaline of stress while others feel constantly under pressure and tense.
When stress starts to affect the quality of our lives it is time to do something about it.
What are the effects of stress?
Too much stress can be difficult to cope with and lead to health problems such as:-
headaches, migraine and muscular tension.
increased susceptibility to colds and infections.
respiratory and digestive disorders.
high blood pressure.
difficulty sleeping
anxiety and depression.
Our methods of coping with stress are usually unhealthy such as bad eating habits, drinking or smoking more.
You may not be able to avoid stress but there are things that you can do to help you cope with it and minimise its effect on your life.
What can I do about it?
Recognising you are under stress is the first step towards controlling the situation. Stress can build up gradually and you may not be aware of it until it reaches a critical level. It is important to recognise the first symptoms of stress.
Warning signs include:
difficulty concentrating
being short tempered
feeling tired most of the time
difficulty sleeping, feeling that you just cannot cope and that you do not manage to achieve anything.
Helpful tips
Try to manage your time more effectively.
Put jobs in order of importance and plan ahead
Learn to say no so that you do not take on more than you can handle
Look after yourself - get more physically active, eat a healthy diet and cut down or stop smoking and drinking-you will find that you sleep better too!
Take time to unwind and make time to socialise.
Learn those things that trigger your stress and try to relax in these situations.
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© 2012 7Futures Ltd. Please note that, at 7Futures, our role is to help educate and encourage our clients to take positive responsibility for their wellbeing. We are not medical doctors and are not able to offer individual medical advice. We always recommend you should discuss with your GP or other medical professional before making any changes you hope will impact your wellbeing, or that of your current/future family. 7Futures Ltd offers generic information which is for educational purposes only. The information we provided is not a prescription system and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. As such our materials, videos products and communications are for general information purposes only and should not be read as a personal recommendation for specific changes in lifestyle behaviour, nutrition, or exercise. Please click here for a clear description of our services and the relationship with you as a client. You should not participate in any of our services until you have studied this link...it is for your benefit.