Stress Management
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STRESS MANAGEMENT
What is Stress?
Stress is a common reaction to the pressures or challenges of life. It impacts one’s emotional and physical wellbeing. Learning to manage our reactions in the stressful situations, help a person’s overall wellbeing. There are some aspects/factors in our lives which can be controlled and some cannot be controlled.
For example
- We can change our diet, but we cannot change the cost of food.
- We can choose the mode of travel, but we cannot change the cost of tickets.
When we learn to effectively manage our stress, initially by distinguishing the two factors and then learning effective problem solving skills, listening skills, assertiveness, relaxation etc., effective stress management becomes possible. Stress is a general term applied to various psychological (mental) and physiological (bodily) pressures experienced or felt by people throughout their lives.
Facts about Stress
- Nearly 24% of Indians struggle with stress. (GOQII, India Fit, Report 22-23).
- People who exercise or walk regularly are able to manage stress very effectively.
- Reading, watching TV or movies, listening to music, prayers, exercising/ walking – these are the most used coping methods to manage stress.
- Stressed persons tend to lack good, quality sleep, involve in binge/over eating and /or skip healthy foods.
Indicators of Stress
Every one of us experience stress situations in life. Most of the times we become aware of the stress immediately, and sometimes we may not even realise our stress and continue with our life’s responsibilities. Over a period of time, it may begin to affect our physical and mental health.
- Irritability/anger
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Anxiousness–rapid heartbeat, palpitations
- Change in eating and sleeping patterns
- Worrying constantly
- Over thinking
- Feeling lonely or stuck or abandoned
- Reduced interest in sex
- Physical and mental fatigue
- Feeling low about yourself, like you are worthless
- Headache
- Nausea, Diarrhoea, Constipation, Indigestion
- Muscle pain and cramps
- Nervousness, dry mouth and/or choking feeling
- Poor attention span and focus
- Indecisiveness and poor judgement
- Pessimistic
What causes Stress?
- Being unhappy in job or life
- Heavy work load/ working long hours
- Too much of responsibility
- Dangerous or poor working conditions
- Unrewarded working environment or risk of losing a job
- Discrimination or harassment at school or college or work
- Marriage or divorce
- Death of a loved one
- Loss of job
- Debts
- Moving to a new place or country
- Illness or injury
- Taking responsibility for elderly, sick family members
- Abuse, natural disaster, violence
How can we help?
- CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Relaxation techniques
- Mindfulness
- EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique
- EMDR Therapy
