Kiya Sama asked:
Try as hard as we might, we cannot avoid the stresses of modern life. We can only learn to manage our responses to stress. The first step is to identify what triggers your reactions – what makes you feel angry, hostile or frustrated. Learn what your body’s stress signals are so that you can then step back from the situation and apply different techniques for managing your response. It is important to take some action, such as calmly expressing your feelings or doing a breathing exercise, so that you reverse or slow down the body’s emergency response mechanism.
Good basic health practices are also important in managing stress. We are much more likely to respond to a tense situation in a volatile fashion when we haven’t had enough sleep or have skipped breakfast and lunched on doughnuts. Good nutrition, regular exercise, and plenty of sleep are good anti-stress prescriptions, as in watching your intake of caffeine, alcohol, or any self-prescribed drugs or medications. Some people find smoking “relaxing,” but that perception comes from the fact that they are probably shallow breathers and only breathe deeply when inhaling the smoke. It is the breathing, not the cigarette, that brings relaxation.
Talking with a friend, laughing, and physical touching are everyday stress relievers that we sometimes overlook. Studies have shown that petting a dog or cat reduces the heart rate and lowers blood pressure. A joke eases tension during a heated discussion, and laughter as a healing agent for cancer patients has been the subject of many books. Discussing your problems and concerns with a friend or counselor can provide relief, support, and new perspectives on how to deal with the stresses in your life.
It is important to find a personal source of relaxation – whether it’s physical exercise, a hobby or mediation – and devote at least a half-hour a day to it. Short vacations, such as a day or weekend in the country, also help to lighten the load of daily routines.
stress
Try as hard as we might, we cannot avoid the stresses of modern life. We can only learn to manage our responses to stress. The first step is to identify what triggers your reactions – what makes you feel angry, hostile or frustrated. Learn what your body’s stress signals are so that you can then step back from the situation and apply different techniques for managing your response. It is important to take some action, such as calmly expressing your feelings or doing a breathing exercise, so that you reverse or slow down the body’s emergency response mechanism.
Good basic health practices are also important in managing stress. We are much more likely to respond to a tense situation in a volatile fashion when we haven’t had enough sleep or have skipped breakfast and lunched on doughnuts. Good nutrition, regular exercise, and plenty of sleep are good anti-stress prescriptions, as in watching your intake of caffeine, alcohol, or any self-prescribed drugs or medications. Some people find smoking “relaxing,” but that perception comes from the fact that they are probably shallow breathers and only breathe deeply when inhaling the smoke. It is the breathing, not the cigarette, that brings relaxation.
Talking with a friend, laughing, and physical touching are everyday stress relievers that we sometimes overlook. Studies have shown that petting a dog or cat reduces the heart rate and lowers blood pressure. A joke eases tension during a heated discussion, and laughter as a healing agent for cancer patients has been the subject of many books. Discussing your problems and concerns with a friend or counselor can provide relief, support, and new perspectives on how to deal with the stresses in your life.
It is important to find a personal source of relaxation – whether it’s physical exercise, a hobby or mediation – and devote at least a half-hour a day to it. Short vacations, such as a day or weekend in the country, also help to lighten the load of daily routines.
stress
