Stress is an unavoidable part of any of our lives, and can easily lead to a downward spiral when ineffectively managed. These steps focus on what’s necessary to prevent stress, cope with it on your own, and manage it with the help of a professional.
Preventing stress
Though it is undeniably easier said than done, taking it one step at a time and keeping track of your habits can lead to a much happier and more fulfilling life.
– Maintain a balanced diet and regular meal times to keep your body healthy.
– Ensure you get a sufficient amount of exercise. A fit, active body is much better equipped to fight the negative effects of stress.
– Get enough rest and sleep, leisure is important to unwind and take a break from daily hassles.
– Learn to manage your time effectively. If this is something you struggle with, many resources that could prove to be of great help are easily available both online and otherwise.
– Try to maintain a positive attitude and prepare yourself to face potential stressors.
Coping with it
It’s impossible to avoid stressors entirely, but adapting, identifying sources, and learning to handle them can be a big help.
– Set limits and understand when saying no is necessary. Assertiveness is an important skill to develop for this.
– Build your social support and reach out when you need. Interacting with loved ones and strong social support has been shown to improve one’s ability to cope with stressful situations.
– Practice relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation. These help both to relieve the physical effects of stress in the moment, as well as overall effects in the long term.
– Avoid coping with substances. Regular consumption of alcohol and drugs under stress leads to higher susceptibility to addiction and other adverse effects.
– Accept that certain events are out of your control. Things not going one’s way is a common source of stress and understanding where you have control is a big step to managing your stress.
Working through it with a Professional
If you feel like things are falling apart or that your stress is out of your control, psychotherapy and counselling can make a big difference. These may also be more necessary in the face of big, stressful life events and changes.
– Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help bring back structure and routine to your life, and manage symptoms of anxiety that come with stress.
– Biofeedback can help you understand your stress better, realise when it’s ongoing, and cope appropriately.
These are just a couple of examples of numerous techniques that are proven to help manage stress effectively.
Written by Sanaya Katrak