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Are you stressed?

Let’s face it, modern day life is stressful and we are fast becoming a nation of worry worts, but what can we do about it?  We reveal some top tips for coping under pressure.

It’s Monday morning and you’re late into the office, your inbox contains 576 unread emails and the phone is ringing off the hook; you feel your heart rate rising.  Sound familiar?

For many people stress is an everyday occurrence, and something they simply have to deal with to get through the working week.

What is stress?

Stress is a term used to describe the feeling created by an emotional or physical threat, whether real or imagined. 

The word ‘stress’ has only been in use since the 1930s after endocrinologist Hans Selye conducted research on the physiological responses of laboratory animals.  He later expanded his theories to humans and the concept of stress became more widely acknowledged.

Being stressed sends your body into a state of alarm and increased adrenaline production, but if dealt with correctly, stress can be alleviated without mental or physical harm.

How can I tell if I’m stressed?

Stress often manifests itself both physically and emotionally with symptoms including headaches, accelerated heart rate, exhaustion, irritability, insomnia, indigestion, loss of concentration and sensitivity to criticism.

It is important to acknowledge and deal with these symptoms, otherwise stress can become the cause of more serious mental and physical problems such as depression and a depleted immune system.

The most common causes of stress

The second biggest occupational health problem in the UK is stress caused by work.  Other causes include money problems, bereavement, moving house, relationship troubles and family issues.

Having unrealistic deadlines, an unsupportive manager, poor working conditions, being in the wrong job and feeling undervalued are some factors which may contribute to work-related stress.

The current economic climate is also causing added stress at work with fears of redundancy running high.  Many are compromising their breaks and staying after hours in a bid to impress their bosses, but are unaware that this could have a detrimental effect on their health and wellbeing in the long run.

How to cope with stress

Tackling work-related stress can be tricky as most people don’t want to appear as if they can’t cope with their job, but there are some methods to deal with this difficult situation.

 
Try talking to someone that you know well and trust outside of work; sometimes talking about your troubles can help ease the stress they are causing.  Also, be sure to discuss any difficulties you’re having at work with your boss or supervisor, and if necessary, your personnel department.

If counselling support is available at your place of work then be sure to take advantage of this, too.

Looking after your body can also help ease the symptoms of stress, so try to kick, or at least cut down, any addictions you may have to smoking or drugs.  Try to take exercise where possible to help focus your mind and work off excess adrenaline caused by stress.

Maintaining a healthy diet can also help balance your mood, so avoid caffeine and alcohol where possible as these can heighten the effects on tension and anxiety.

You could also try alternative and complimentary therapies such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, massage and aromatherapy.

Source: MSN Life & Style