Stress Anxiety – Its Dangers and How to Manage It

We are living in a highly competitive society where almost everyone is always on the go. As soon as the alarm goes off, everybody’s scrambling into the race-track of life where Anxiety is, “Keep up or keep out!” It is truly a rat-race out there – race against time, deadlines, bills, responsibilities in the office and home. There is no end in the list, and when you add it all up: STRESS.

Stress is a situation or feeling which requirements exceeds resources that person has to manage it. For many people, stress is so regular that it has sadly become a way of life.

Stress is the direct result of the hectic demand of our world today and whether we like or not, it is a part of our daily life. The best thing to do with it then is to manage it. I know that’s “Easy for Me to Say”, but I’ve been through the worst of times and I know one thing for sure. Stress is the Enemy and a Positive Attitude is your Best Buddy!

Stress management is very important in fighting against it. If stress is left alone it could not only undermine your health but also your income as well. About 40-80% of all visits to doctors can be stress-related and by the time you realize it, stress has done its job in damaging you or your career. It all just started in one simple statement, “I am just tired.” This may be a valid statement, but if you feel like this almost every day, it is time to evaluate. If this goes on, you may end up having illnesses and disorders like heart disease, chronic fatigue, anxiety attacks, mood swings, psychological distress, depression, sleep problems, high blood pressure, eating disorders, peptic ulcers, poor immune function, just to name a few.

But how do you manage stress?

Management # 1 – Identify the symptoms of stress: tiredness, lack of interest or enthusiasm, easily irritated, lack of focus, headaches or migraines.

Management # 2 – Identify the source of stress or stressor: This is quite hard for one to do since some sources of stress are not as obvious as it seems. It could be some irritating behavior of co-workers which you try to neglect or maybe even you own attitude. Experts in stress management will always advise you to look at your habits, attitude and your excuses to really identify your stressor.

Management #3 – It is even advisable to keep a Stress Journal in which you write down: Cause of stress, its effect on you mentally and physically, your response/reaction to it, your way of relieving yourself. As you continue to do this, you will see patterns and eventually you will have a clue as to what are the major stressors of your life.

Management #4 – Apply the correct management. In coping up with stress, it must be remembered that wrong way of doing it could lead to a very serious, and sometimes, irreversible damages. Do not ever resort to cigarette smoking, alcoholism, eating too much or too less, eating unhealthy food, isolation from friends and loved-ones, drug intake, i.e. stimulants or depressants, unproductive use of television or computer, giving in to laziness, over-sleeping, releasing stress on others either verbally or physically.

What are the right ways of coping stress? Experts advise the four A’s:

1. Avoid the stressor – This is the foremost thing you have to do

2. Alter the stressor – If you cannot avoid it then alter it. Find a way of changing your situation or the person by heart-to-heart confrontation.

3. Adapt the stressor – If you cannot change the stressor, change your attitude towards it.

4. Accept the stressor – Reframe your mind; there are just some things that are unchangeable and unavoidable and you might as well accept it.

Management #5 – Give yourself a break; a change of pace or scenery perhaps. Even a change of route to the office can greatly help. Exercise can do a lot in releasing stress out of your system and also a proper diet.

Management #6 – Look at the world with a positive mind. Life is great, life is good. Connect with people you love. Though pain and misery lies around, do not focus yourself on these, instead, look at the things that makes life worth living for – and there are lots of it!

One thing all of life's winners have in common is a positive attitude. Dealing with stress is all about managing oneself, and developing a positive frame of mind, combined with high self esteem and confidence.

Confidence is a good thing, right? Everyone wants confidence. It helps your performance. It makes you feel good about yourself. It allows you to set high goals and “Overcome Stress”

Stress is the direct result of the hectic demand of our world today and whether we like or not, it is a part of our daily life. The best thing to do with it then is to manage it. I know that’s “Easy for Me to Say”, but I’ve been through the worst of times and I know one thing for sure. Stress is the Enemy and a Positive Attitude is your Best Buddy!