What is stress? How to deal with stress

Anything that poses a challenge or a threat to our well-being is a stress. Some stresses get you going and they are good for you - without any stress at all many say our lives would be boring and would probably feel pointless. However, when the stresses undermine both our mental and physical health they are bad.

When we are stressed the following happens:

* Blood pressure rises
* Breathing becomes more rapid
* Digestive system slows down
* Heart rate (pulse) rises
* Immune system goes down
* Muscles become tense
* We do not sleep (heightened state of alertness)

We all respond differently to a given situation for three main reasons

1. We do not all interpret each situation in the same way.
2. Because of this, we do not all call on the same resources for each situation
3. We do not all have the same resources and skills.

How to deal with stress
There are three broad methods you can follow to treat stress, they include self-help, self management, and medication.

Self help for treating stress
Exercise - exercise has been proven to have a beneficial effect on a person's mental and physical state.

Division of labor - try to delegate your responsibilities at work, or share them.

Assertiveness - don't say yes to everything.

Alcohol and drugs - alcohol and drugs will not help you manage your stress better.

Caffeine - cut down.

Nutrition - eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Time - make sure you set aside some time each day just for yourself.

Breathing - there are some effective breathing techniques which will slow down your system and help you relax.

Talk - Express your thoughts and worries to you family, friends, work colleagues and your boss.

Seek professional help - if the stress is affecting the way you function; go and see your doctor.

Relaxation techniques - mediation, massage, or yoga have been known to greatly help people with stress.

Stress management techniques
Stress management can help you to either remove or change the source of stress, alter the way you view a stressful event, lower the impact that stress might have on your body, and teach you alternative ways of coping. Techniques can be gained if you read self-help books, attend a stress management course, or seek the help of a counselor or psychotherapist for personal development or therapy sessions.

Medicines
Doctors will not usually prescribe medications for coping with stress, unless the patient has an underlying illness, such as depression or some type of anxiety. There is a risk that all the medication will do is mask the stress, rather than help you deal and cope with it.