How To Cope With Stress

We all experience stress sometimes, some people more than others. There are so many things that can cause us to worry, from issues at work, to falling out with a friend. I’m hoping that this article will help you to understand stress a bit more so you are able to cope with it better & have a more positive life.

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WHAT IS STRESS?

Stress is always thought of as bad thing, but it can actually be helpful as it alerts us to danger. Our body thinks it is under attack & releases a mix of hormones & chemicals, including adrenaline, to prepare the body for physical action. Adrenaline causes the heart to pound, your breathing to become faster, & gives you a boost of energy, all of which allows you to focus & respond to the situation.

However, if we are kept in a stressful state for too long it can be detrimental to our health.

WHAT CAUSES STRESS?

There are so many things that can cause stress, & they will be very personal for each of us. Here are just a few common stressors;

Pressure at home or work

Big changes

Worrying about something

Lack of control

Overwhelming responsibilities

Uncertainty

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SIGNS OF STRESS

Stress can manifest itself in 3 main ways, & you will often exhibit a number of signs.

EMOTIONAL SIGNS

Irritability

Anxiousness

Thoughts racing through your head

Struggle to enjoy things you usually do

A sense of dread

PHYSICAL SIGNS

Struggling to sleep

Muscle tension

Headache

Clenching your teeth

Feeling sick & dizzy

BEHAVIOURAL SIGNS

Find it hard to make decisions

Worrying a lot

Snapping at people

Eating more / less than usual

Drinking alcohol more often

Restlessness

As well as the signs listed above, stress can lead to a variety of other health problems such as high blood pressure, IBS, & can even cause miscarriage. As well as these physical problems, stress can cause mental health problems so it is important to look after your mind as well as your body.

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DEALING WITH STRESS

After looking at why we get stressed & the signs of stress, let’s look at ways to deal with it. Stress is a completely normal feeling, & this section will offer you ways in which to try & minimise the negative effects of it.

HEALTH

Looking after your physical health is extremely important. If you’re physically fit you will naturally feel better & will not be bogged down by illnesses whilst trying to navigate stressful situations.

Sleep is a big factor as not getting enough will make you irritable, making dealing with stress very difficult. Make sure your bed is comfortable, & that you have a good bedtime routine that works for you. Exercise is a great way to stay healthy, & it’s free! Jogging around your local area is a great way to start, & you can always build up to more gruelling runs. Exercising keeps your whole body healthy & also your mind. Finally, there’s eating healthily. It doesn’t need to be ‘rabbit food’, there are so many ways to eat healthily & tastily! Look up new recipes for foods you like & start making some new delicious & healthy meals.

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PLANNING

I love a good spreadsheet. I have them for everything from meal planning to finances. For me, having these spreadsheets lowers my anxiety & helps

me cope a bit better day-to-day. Making lists is a great way to reduce stress. You can see on paper exactly what you need to do, and you get the satisfaction of ticking them off!

If you have a lot on your plate, reduce your tasks so they’re more achievable & manageable, & make sure you praise yourself for any task that is completed.

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SUPPORT

Having a good support network is crucial if you’re prone to stress. You can find support in many places, it’s just finding the right support for you. The first & most obvious support is from friends & family. They are close to you & know you the best so they’d be able to suggest some good ways to help you feel better. If you’re feeling stressed at work then you could ask somebody to mentor you. They can offer you guidance & support in what can be a very stressful environment. If you’re in education you could ask your tutor to offer you support. There will most likely be some sort of student support or counsellor on hand. Take advantage of what’s on offer, they’re there to help.

Find someone you can confide in who will listen to your worries. We all feel stress about different things, & it’s important that whoever you confide in won’t diminish your feelings if it isn’t something they would personally feel stressed about.

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POSITIVE MINDSET

A positive mindset is a great way to deal with stress. It allows you to see things from a different, more positive perspective. Attaining a positive mindset takes work, but once you achieve it, it will benefit all parts of your life.

A positive affirmation is a positive phrase that you repeat to yourself that describes how you want to be or feel, such as “I am beautiful”. Repeating this to yourself allows it to enter your subconscious mind for it then to become a self-fulling prophecy.

We all make mistakes but instead of beating yourself up about it, try & forgive yourself. If you’ve failed at something, see it as a lesson. We can’t be perfect all of the time!

Make sure you’re surrounded by positive people, as negative people can bring you down & make you see everything as hopeless, whereas positive people will help you see the good in things, even if it’s something small.

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I hope you have found this useful & that you can start to deal with stress more effectively. Remember that stress is normal, & that everyone will feel it at some point in their life. Try to surround yourself with positive people who will help you in a way that is best for you, & focus on every positive thing in your life, no matter how small.

Thank you for reading!