Stress Management | Handle Stress

Do you know the top 10 causes of stress?

vikram — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:39:56 +0000

Stress can be caused by many different factors. The following are the top 10 causes of stress in order of intensity:
• A marriage partner dying
• Divorce
• Separation from partner or spouse
• Jail sentence
• Death of family member who you are close to
• Serious illness or injury to self
• Union in marriage
• Being made redundant or losing job
• Reconciling with lifelong partner
However, although these are the top 10 causes of stress it does not always mean that you will be stressed even if you fit in with one of these situations. Whether a situation causes stress within a person depends on their biological makeup. It also depends on whether there are mitigating circumstances or other problems already evident. Clearly, if there is a build up of issues, emotional or physical, then the death of someone who has great meaning to a person can be taken harder than if those problems did not exist.

Occasionally, more than two of these situations will coincide, for example, marriage and loss of employment. This may create stress in an individual, as preparing for and paying for everything the marriage entails may have overstretched a person’s finances. This would not be a problem with employment as everything could be budgeted. However, without the prospect of employment to pay for this, undue worry and stress may be caused. So you can see how one area of life can easily be influenced by circumstances in another area. This is why it is so important to learn how to deal with the effects of stress as quickly as possible to stop them building up into something that will need medical treatment.
Learning how to relax properly can take care of one area of stress. Relaxing the mind is one of the key factors to take care of as quickly as possible, as the mind and its thoughts affect other areas of the body. If the mind is relaxed and worry-free, then ailments in the body subside.

Do you know the top 10 causes of stress? is a post from: Stress Management | Handle Stress

No more dinosaurs – but the stress remains

vikram — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:37:18 +0000

The death of a partner or spouse is the top of the list when considering the cause of stress. There are lots of other factors on the list too, but this is the number one cause. Of course we cannot do anything about the death of a loved one, and this is precisely why stress takes its toll. Whenever we feel out of control, then stress moves in. Stress can provide a range of negative symptoms, including sweating, palpitations, insomnia, anxiety, etc. Any health considerations can also be exacerbated by stress. In fact, stress can affect the health too. Indigestion due to knots in the stomach or an increase in stomach acid can cause a great deal of discomfort, bloating and other issues.

Stress is actually your body’s way of trying to protect you. It is an automatic response to something that is perceived to be a threat. Although we are no longer chased by dinosaurs every day, the body still responds to emergencies in the same way as it has been programmed to. When something is perceived as a threat, real or imagined, the nervous system within the body releases adrenaline. These are the hormones that make you feel anxious or a heightened sense of productivity. The heart beat faster in response to this chemical stimulus and this will cause your blood pressure to rise. This is the body’s way of preparing to fight or run. The senses will take on a more acute sense and muscles will also tighten in readiness to whatever course of action you take.

Stress in small amounts is beneficial; however, extended periods of stressful responses can cause medical problems that may need attention. Avoid this by undertaking a stress management routine. Recognizing and identifying the symptoms of stress or stressors that affect you will help you to prevent and remove them before they can produce lasting damage.

No more dinosaurs – but the stress remains is a post from: Stress Management | Handle Stress

Stop making a mountain out of a molehill!

vikram — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:32:18 +0000

Stress management is a big business and you only need to take a small look around to find lots of companies offering courses, help, instruction, guidance or techniques to help stress. Stress can be very disabling for the person it affects and is one of the biggest causes of absenteeism in the workplace. Therefore, it is no surprise that many businesses are finally taking on board the fact that stress can cause very real problems and symptoms. Many are even implementing their own stress management courses or allowing employees to attend such life enhancing courses.

If you face a situation in the workplace where you feel inundated and unable to cope or carry on, the very first thing to do is to walk away for a break. Remove yourself from the situation before it gets a hold on you. You may think this sounds counter-productive, but read on. It will allow you breathing space to put everything into perspective and formulate a plan of action.

Sometimes when there is a great deal of work to be done all that can be seen is a huge mountain in front of us. It is not the prospect of the work that causes the stressful feelings; it is the magnitude of it. In our minds it suddenly feels like a huge blockage without boundary. If you break down the tasks into smaller ones, or even remove some of them from view if you are unable to delegate, you will find the situation much easier to deal with. If this is not possible, then you need to focus on just the one thing you are doing, without considering anything else. This will help you deal with the situation much easier. Stress has the effect of immobilization. What you don’t realize is that you would probably undertake the same amount of tasks, if not more, ordinarily. The sheer volume in immediate view has blocked out the possibility of finishing the project. Take a break and you will be more productive and lessen the chance of stress taking hold.

Stop making a mountain out of a molehill! is a post from: Stress Management | Handle Stress

Stress will pass you by, don’t worry!

vikram — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:30:25 +0000

A small amount of stress can be beneficial in that it helps to motivate those who are not proactive. However, the kind of stress to avoid is the intense kind that affects your whole mind and body. This kind of stress can occur in many different situations, and many people experience stress in the workplace when they are overloaded with work that needs to be undertaken in short space of time. Some people thrive on this kind of pressure; others fold instantly at the first fence.
We are all different and respond to situations differently, and stress is no exception. If you choose to handle stress in a way that is productive then you will find you can alleviate and remove the feelings and emotions it exerts on you. In fact it can be a driving force that helps you get even more done that you thought you were capable of. For others, it can be a powerful force so disabling that nothing can be achieved and life is difficult to bear. There are many ways to handle stress and not all of them work for everyone. It is a matter of finding one that suits you.

It is important to remember that everything passes. This is true of situations that are positive or negative; there is no distinction. The only distinction is the way we respond or react to them. This may sound trite, particularly if you are in the middle of a crisis of some kind, but everything does change and nothing remains in the same form constantly. This one statement can help many people handle stress effectively, as it gives hope. Hope is the opposite of stress. Hope holds out a guiding light that means the situation is in flux and will change. You can make that change yourself by taking just a few steps, or you can choose to hold onto the belief that it too will pass.

Stress will pass you by, don’t worry! is a post from: Stress Management | Handle Stress

Mozart – the ultimate stress-buster!

vikram — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:29:01 +0000

Choosing stress relief methods to help you through some of the darkest hours in life is easy if you are determined to help yourself. Many people do succumb to apathy when life is difficult and it is exactly at these times that you need to focus on helping yourself. Many things that cause stress are things that you can do nothing about. Worrying is an empty emotion. It is not productive and cannot change the outcome of a situation. Once you recognize this in its lowest form then you can really help yourself by doing something that can help you out of this state of mind.

Music is recognized universally as a mood changing or enhancing tool. You can experiment for yourself and prove it. Put on something that is really upbeat with a fast tempo and take your pulse. You will not be able to stop your pulse rising. In fact, if you need to get a job done quickly, the best way to do it is to put on some fast music, as this will affect your working speed. Therefore, conversely, if you play a piece of music that is slow and soothing, your mood will be changed instantly too, so will your productivity. Of course, this music does not have to be by a famous composer, such as Mozart. In fact, it doesn’t even need to be an orchestral piece; it can be anything that makes you feel calm or gives you a sense of comfort.

There may be songs that make you feel happy, sad, uplifted, etc. This is because the brain has different brainwaves for different states of mind. Music can affect those brainwaves, which means it can change states of mind. There are many relaxing music compilations that you can find, so don’t be afraid to experiment as many of these can be downloaded for free from the internet. Banish those stressful feelings for good.

Mozart – the ultimate stress-buster! is a post from: Stress Management | Handle Stress

Cup of chamomile tea, anyone?

vikram — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:25:18 +0000

Stress is a part of life and whether we like it or not it will put in an appearance every once in a while. Stress occurs when we feel out of control of situations or emotions or we feel threatened at our core. Sometimes these feelings are justified, however, the majority of the time they are not. Most of the times, the stress we feel is out of proportion with the situation or events.

Whenever we are faced with stressful feelings, such as apprehension, anxiety or insomnia, it makes sense to take steps to alleviate these pent-up feelings. There are a variety of steps you can take for natural stress relief rather than rely on medication or pharmaceutical options. These natural stress relief options include music, yoga, meditation, exercise, etc. There are, of course, many more options available, and some people respond to some solutions better than others. The best thing to do is to see what works for you.

One of the first steps to try is chamomile tea. Chamomile tea has been proven to reduce stress by calming the nervous system and relaxing tight muscles. If a simple cup of herbal tea can reduce stress within minutes, perhaps this is one step that you can take immediately to eradicate that knot of nervousness or anxiety in the pit of your stomach. Not only can chamomile help with stress, but it can also relax you enough so you can sleep better.

A better night’s sleep helps the brain to put everything into perspective, and this helps to reduce stress too. Chamomile can also help with stomach complaints, cramps and digestion problems that often accompany stress. Chamomile is not to everyone’s taste, it’s true, but if you accept it as part of your stress-busting techniques, then this simple cup of tea can help you feel better fast.

Cup of chamomile tea, anyone? is a post from: Stress Management | Handle Stress

A concise guide: How to handle stress

vikram — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:06:46 +0000

Seasoned businessmen and women will tell you that breaking out on their own to form their very own business is probably the largest challenge they have ever encountered. Doing so without stress is very nearly impossible. Suddenly no one is telling you what to do; you are the one telling others. You do not follow the schedule that someone else devised; you make the schedule for everyone else. And as fulfilling and rewarding as owning your own business can be, the risks and stress are on an equal but opposite scale. But getting that business headed in the right direction can be made a little less stressful by things like prioritization. What’s important? That gets done first. What isn’t? That gets put off. Is there a project that is time sensitive? Set yourself a schedule and stick to it. Don’t expect your employees to prioritize if you don’t.

And don’t stretch yourself so thin that there’s nothing left. Many people will be clamoring for your attention and putting demands on you such as never before. If you can maintain a calm, organized outlook, you will be the one that not only keeps your head but keeps it above water. Drowning in a sea of debt in secondary to drowning in stress. Learn how to say no, that word alone can be your new best friend. Learn how to say it with discretion, but learn how to say it and use it. And don’t stress out over all those yellow ‘while you were out’ messages on your desk. Prioritize those in the same manner in which you have prioritized your projects.

Never forget that guy that used to scream at you to get your work done and antagonized all the other employees around you. He did it because he was stressed out. Don’t be that guy. Learn how to handle your stress so that not only you but your business and your employees can run like a fine tuned machine with as little stress as humanly possible in the workplace.

A concise guide: How to handle stress is a post from: Stress Management | Handle Stress

Learn about drug free stress remedies!

vikram — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:05:29 +0000

Stress remedies don’t always consist of a manufactured product or even natural food. Sometimes stress remedies can be as simple as changing just one thing in your day. If you are particularly stressed out in the morning a simple change in behavior can smooth out your mornings and allow you to start your day stress free. Make your lunch ahead of time (such as the night before or freeze small portions of a large meal to take and microwave at work), layout your clothes and iron them if necessary the night before. Preparation is the key to a stress free morning. Get gas on your way home instead of having to gas up on your way to work. Listen to traffic reports on the radio so that you are prepared to take an alternate route and avoid the stress of bumper to bumper traffic.

Simple exercise, hobbies, listening to music, meditation, playing with your pet; can all be used as natural stress inhibitors. Going fishing for instance, is one of the most relaxing things that a person can do. It’s no wonder that so many retirees fish. They’ve worked hard all their lives and now it’s time to finally unwind and relax. And unless you’re depending on the fish you catch for a meal, the stress relief that you can achieve through fishing doesn’t even have to have anything to do with actually catching fish. Hunting can be another stress reliever. Not so good for your prey, but relaxing for you. Try hunting with a camera instead of a gun.

Journalism, be it for private use or stories for publication, can be a major stress reliever. Children that have or keep journals are more apt to be less stressed than children who do not. Keeping things bottled up inside is not healthy and contributes to stress levels. If they don’t talk to someone about their troubles, at least they can write it in a journal.

Learn about drug free stress remedies! is a post from: Stress Management | Handle Stress

What are some stress relief products?

vikram — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:04:26 +0000

Well, when all else fails… Drugs! If you tend to shy away from that sort of thing (though there are countless numbers of stress relieving drugs on the market: i.e. lorazepam, valium, xanax, adivan) fear not, there are other options. After all, it would never do to solve the problem of stress only to create the stress of dependency. But just as there are certain products that relieve stress, certain other products are doing you know no when it comes to stress.

Coffee for instance, encourages anxiety and pumps up your stress level as well as your heartbeat. You don’t actually have more energy if you drink coffee, you just feel like you do. Alcohol is another product that people tend to use for stress relief but that in reality only contributes to their level of stress and their inability to deal with it. There are teas such as Chamomile, peppermint and willow bark that will relieve stress or stress induced headaches. Sleeping aids such as Ambien, Lunesta, Benadril, Unisom (both prescription and OTC) can assist you in getting the sleep you need to be stress free but seldom do anything for the stress itself.

Certain products on your grocer’s shelves will assist in stress relief as well. People sometimes turn to eating to relieve their stress when in reality snacking on the wrong kinds of foods will do nothing but increase it and your weight. Obesity is, unfortunately, one of the major unhealthy side effects of stress. If you must eat or snack at non-meal times, guacamole is a smart choice. Yes it has fats but they are natural as opposed to the fats you will receive from potato chips. Frozen berries are not only delicious but nutritious. Oatmeal is a wonderful, tasty and nutritious snack that can cool down your nerves and stress. And believe it or not, in moderation, chocolate is a grand stress reliever. Small pieces in frequent intervals are a smarter choice than a lot of chocolate at one time, though.

What are some stress relief products? is a post from: Stress Management | Handle Stress

Understanding personal relaxation techniques for stress

vikram — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:02:33 +0000

Relaxing your way out of stress; what a concept! What a shame that more people can’t grasp it. So how do relaxation techniques and stress management go hand in hand? Your mind overloads, as do your emotions, stress takes over and BOOM! Before you know it stress wins out. But there are many different ways of dealing with stress, only one of which is through relaxation techniques. How do you relax? Some people relax, believe it or not, through a well played strenuous game of racquetball. On the other hand, it has been proven that sitting and stroking a pet (such as a cat) in your lap can be genuinely, medically beneficial to one’s well being. If the physical exertion or stroking a beloved pet does not sound like a relaxation technique that would reduce your stress there is always mental relaxation. Relax the soul and you will relax the mind.

Aroma therapy can offer soothing scents which can help one unwind and clear the mind; color can also assist in elimination of stress but is presently one of the most misunderstood factors as to how it can influence or tell us about the mind, body and spirit of others. Music is not only capable of providing us with an irresistible beat to which we love to move our feet, but can relax us to the point of actual sleep.

And of course, there are natural herbs that can help to prevent or erase the untold damages of stress. Hawthorne berries for instance can calm you down when you feel as if your heart is going to beat out through your chest and oats promote not only stress relief but overall wellness. Chamomile and peppermint are popular with tea lovers for a soothing, stress relieving brew. While on the subject of tea, making it from willow bark has been known to bring relief to sufferers of frequent headaches (a common side effect of stress).

Understanding personal relaxation techniques for stress is a post from: Stress Management | Handle Stress