Try the following suggestions to help you better deal with stress. (If these do not work for you, consider getting professional help)

1. Learn about stress! Very few people know what stress is, how it works, what causes it, or how to solve it - and yet they are perplexed as to why it continues to be a growing problem for them. Get a few books, listen to a few tapes or take a course, and start learning about stress and how to best deal with it.

 

2. Work relaxation into every day! A walk, a bike ride, meditation, a cup of soothing decaf tea, swimming, deep breathing, etc. (Be aware that watching TV, eating snacks, going shopping, sitting around the house, reading the paper and watching movies or sports are not relaxing. These activities have actually been shown to increase stress!)

 

3. Look at life-style changes: Most people who are stressed lead stressful lives! Sounds simple doesn't it! Their lives are designed to create stress - they need to re-design their lives so that they can enjoy the lives they have. People have lots of excuses at this point as to why they cannot redesign their lives - but that is what they are - excuses! If you want the suffering to stop - you must remove the system that causes the suffering. What changes can you make in your life-style?

 

4. Connect with positive friends: Positive friends can be great stress-reducers, they help you to resolve problems and provide emotional support. They also help you to take things less seriously and engage in fun activities with you. Good friends add joy to your life and reduce stress.

 

5. Avoid negative people: These include negative friends - you know the ones - the whiners, gossips, leaches, co-dependents, bearers of bad news, complainers, etc. These are NOT real friends - get rid of them - they are an anchor around your neck! Negative people will suck the life right out of you - avoid them at all costs!

 

6. Improve your time-management skills: You complain that you have no time and constantly feel pressured - Have you ever studied time-management??? Good time management skills can easily add another 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours to your day! They can also reduce the stress associated with these working hours and even get you promotions!(with little additional work)

 

7. Exercise & Sleep: Exercise has been shown to be more effective than medication in reducing stress! Exercise increases your stress-tolerance and sense of well-being dramatically. Did you know it is also one of the leading treatments for anxiety and depression? Look at your sleep patterns - are you getting enough? Any problems with insomnia? (check out www.acs1.bizland.com for insomnia tips) Lack of sleep will cause stress - make sure you are getting enough!

 

8. Communication: People are often surprised when they see this suggestion here! But communication means expressing your needs and getting them met, it means setting good boundaries, and being assertive. All great stress reducers!

 

9. Improve your diet: All foods that contain caffeine greatly increase stress and anxiety (coffee, tea, chocolate, cola). A healthy diet and vitamin supplements (especially B vitamins and calcium) can significantly reduce stress. Consider cutting down on sugar and meat, while drinking more water.

 

10. Smile! That's right! SMILE! When you smile your mood is changed for the better and positive neurotransmitters and endorphins enter the brain. People also respond better to someone who is smiling. Study after study shows this technique works wonders!

Paul J. Cline, MA CAGS LMHC LADC is a local Psychotherapist, author, lecturer and owner of Advanced Counseling Services in Keene, NH (603) 357-1708.