As many people at the moment are suffering from stress - at work or home, with finances, employment or business,  as well as the general everyday stress we expereince as part of life.

I hope this helps you better understand what you can do to reduce your stress whilst remembering that some stress is good, believe it or not.  (It depends on the level and consistency of the stress). 

Stress is a perceived threat and we respond automatically to this threat, whether physical or emotional and our natural response is the fight or flight syndrome (Seyle) - increased heart rate and breathing preparing muscles for action; closing down unnecessary functions such as hunger and digestion.  

Remeber there is positive stress too - this is the motivation to act and make things happen whether that is actually going to the shop or taking a chance, after thought and planning hopefully. With just enough chemicals to motivate and sustain us we can make good use of this stress.

Managing your stress

1. Know you stressors

What triggers your stress responses e.g. self image/confidence, other people's lack of effort  or temperature/lighting problems which make things difficult for you.Environmental e.g. sick building syndrome, temperature (too cold or hot), noise – distractions

Know yourself – work to your strengths and minimise difficulties e.g. a good listener, your perceptions of your creativity or meticulous behaviours, your values and beliefs might be challenged.

Emotional stressors include situations such as tests, money problems, family or values being challenged/challenging

Cognitive - crowds, image, status compared to others

Environmental - lighting, temperature, noise, location

2. Impact of stress on mind and body

Impairs judgement and creates distractions e.g. forgetting things, making 'bad' decisions

Physical health and wellbeing - stomach pain, heart problems, headaches (caused by checicals, hormone levels)

Learned helplessness – we start to believe we can’t so we just stop trying

3. Adapting to stress

Denial (“no problem at all”)
Depression (stop trying, hide away)

or
Problem solve - Take action

Action you can take to improve your situation and reduce your stress:

• Learn about yourself e.g. environment, control issues, expecatations - and learn to manage them e.g. ask for changes to the temperature, ask people why they do what they do
• Challenge your perceptions - your usual assumptions, expectations and beliefs may not always be right
• Change your perceptions and assumptions about others - what you can and can't change (circle of influence)
• Accept that things may not change immediately if they are not 'right' - working toward it helps to reduce the stress
• Create distractions from worries - give yourself a break e.g. exercise, activity, develop a hobby, meet up with people

Every day take a step forward to what you want and need - managing your situation to create the environment you can function in each day, comfortably.