Stress Management

Stress Management 

Stress is an emotional and bodily reaction to physical, psychological, or emotional demands. It is a fact of life.  Managed stress can become useful and healthy, but unmanaged stress can become distressful and unhealthy. 

What are the causes?  

•  Expectations we place on ourselves 
•  Expectations of others 
•  Our physical environment: noise, movement, weather, season changes 
•  Our internal environment: academic pressure, frustration, time, decisions, social life 
•  What are some symptoms of unmanaged stress? 
•  Increased heart rate and blood pressure 
•  Feeling tense, irritable, fatigues, or depressed 
•  Lack of interest and ability to concentrate 

What is Stress? 

• Avoidance behaviors: abuse of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco 
• So What Do I Do About It? 
• Associate with people whom you enjoy and who support you.  
• Learn and practice relaxation or meditation skills; watch your breathing. 
• Get a thorough physical exam. 
• Engage in a vigorous physical exercise that is convenient and pleasurable. Sometimes it helps 
• to let a friend to exercise with you.  
• Don't let one thing dominate you, such as school work, relationships, jobs, sports, etc.  
• View life as challenges to seek, not obstacles to avoid.  
• Take responsibility for your life and your feelings.  
• Maintain a reasonable diet and sane sleep habits.  
• Avoid the use of sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and other drugs to control stress.  
• Protect your personal freedom and space. When others intrude, let them know.  
• Find a time and place each day where you can have complete privacy. Let go, even if just for a little while, the pressures of the day.  Short time-outs during the day can help improve func-tioning for the rest of the day.  
• Don't drift along in troublesome and stressful situations or relationships. Take action to change, rather than avoid, the problem. Taking chances is the key to emotional well being.  
• Surround yourself with cues for positive thoughts and relaxation.  
• Review your obligations from time to time and make sure they are still good for you. If they're not, let them go.  
• Open yourself to new experiences. Try new things, new foods, and new places.  
• When worries start to build up, talk to someone.