Getting past stressful times

For some folks it seems like they were born to handle difficult times, no matter how much stress combined with anxiety the situation has. Did they inherit it or maybe it is just another great unknown of the human mind. Personally I think that one’s surrounding while growing up has a lot to do with it, but then again I’m not sure.  However many folks fall into the other category of struggling with stressful times.

Since stress and anxiety are such a big part of everyone’s life you would think that there a physical reaction to it and there is of course.  The adrenaline pumps up in our systems and our body is put on high alert. But you should only have to go through this type of reaction in extreme cases not when the littlest of problems arise.

While the internet is full of advice on stress, just do a Google search on it, the best first step is always to check with a physician and see if you stressful life is having any adverse effects on your health. Counseling is also a good idea, because sometimes it just isn’t easy to go through life’s difficulties without help.

Keep in mind that you aren’t alone in your battle with stress and anxiety.

Daily affirmations

A couple of years ago I had a counselor suggest that I try daily affirmations, which are a list of positive statements that are read every day. at the time she gave me a list and I tried them out for a month or so but it didn’t seem to help so I stopped reading them. Last winter when I was feeling particularly bad I decided to give them another try. I found a pretty good list of affirmations on the web.

http://stress.about.com/od/optimismspirituality/a/freeaffirmation.htm

I read them 15 times a day and I think that they have helped some. The key to this type of therapy is being consistent and making sure that you read them every day. I keep an excel file where I list them and to date I have only missed twice since the beginning of the year.

If the above list of affirmation don’t work for you do a search and you’ll find lots of others to choose from.

Music therapy as a stress reducer

The idea that music helps us calm down is as old as music itself. Whether it is a pop song or a symphony, the sounds seem to go through our brains like waves that washes our stress out to sea. After a hard day of work the sound of a car radio almost seems therapeutic since our bodies are winding down and the music complements our natural relaxation response.

 

There have been studies that have shown that music does help relieve tension and anxiety. It lowers blood pressure, relaxes muscles and can help with depression.

 

Is it the music or is it the emotions that it stirs that makes it so relaxing to hear a favorite song? It is probably both. And it doesn’t have to be sounds of music that can soothe you, it can also be recordings of nature sounds that puts you in a mood, almost hypnotic, where the days problems can be forgotten or at least be better understood.

 

You don’t have to stay at home in your easy chair, combining a good walk with great tunes can lift your spirit and refresh you like few things can. Especially if the music has a quick beat that you can keep pace with.

Music therapy can also be used in conjunction with deep breathing exercises, where you on a sound of nature tape and breath. You will definitely reach a relaxed state that you will look forward to returning to in the future.

Kids and Stress

We all know about stress and how difficult it is for most folks to handle and we all remember stressful times when we were children, some more than others. Like adults some kids can handle it better than other and like adults if the stress gets too much for children you should make sure to get them help.

Stress in children can be brought about in many different ways. It could be a broken home that causes children to experience anxiety and worry or it could be troubles at school. But those are only two of things that can make life miserable for children

 

Signs and symptoms of stress in children

•  They become withdrawn and are difficult to communicate with
• Bad mood swings
• Weight gain or loss
• Not able to get enough sleep
• They complain of headaches
• Total lack of self confidence

 

"Are kids over scheduled?"

Are too many activities after school causing stress for your children? Think about it, no one wants to have all their time marked off which doesn't allow any free time or time to relax.

What can cause stress in children

•  Parents fighting at home
• Problems with their school work
• Being picked on at school
• Not eating properly
• The family moves away and they have to make new friends
• Parents own problems with stress can cause it in children  

 

What health problems can stress lead to?

• Depression
• Poor eating habits
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Asthma

"What to do about children who can't handle stress"

• Exercise is a great way for anyone to relieve stress whether you are young or old
•  Counseling should be considered if the stress seems to drive your children in a downward spiral
•  Keep the lines of communication open between your children and you   

Five ways to stop feeling overwhelmed by life

1. Stop what you are doing and take a breath, get away from the all the things that are driving you crazy. Relax, clear your head of all the stress that life has dropped on you. Try relaxation exercises like meditation.
2. Take out a piece of paper and write down all the things that need to be done. Things might not be so taunting once you see them on paper.
3. Everything is important, but you have to prioritize. Rank all the things that have to be done in order.
4. Plan how you are going to do things and how much time you will take on each item.
5. Without interruption go to the first item and work on it till completed. Don’t start another thing before finishing the task that you are working on.

The key to all this is time management and staying focused on one thing at a time.

At one point or the other life has a way of overwhelming the best of us. Time is so limited and the amount of things that you have to do is staggering. It’s no wonder that you feel helpless by it all. In order to save your sanity and general health you must stop feeling over whelmed by life.

Can you measure stress?

There are some illnesses that are easy to measure, like blood pressure where a simple test will tell you if you are in good or bad range. Cholesterol levels are also easy to find out through a blood test.  Unfortunately there are health problems that can’t be quantified so easily, like stress which can be triggered by certain situations.

We have all had stress at some time during our lives and for many folks stress is a real problem because they don’t know how to handle stressful situations. These stressors could happen quite frequently causing much distress and even health problems. One tool to be able to avoid stress is to be able to measure it.

Ways to measure stress

• Some of things may seem obvious but they are worth mentioning…
• A high pulse rate
• High blood pressure (it could also be other things so check with your doctor)
• There are questionnaires or stress tests that will tell you if you are stressed
• Muscle tension
• Excessive sweating

If you let stress run havoc over your life, the results will be devastating. Stress can cause major health problems and prevent you from leading a healthy and productive life.

Take care…

Sleep and stress

Sleep and stress

Sleep and proper rest is something that the body just can’t do without.  Sure, you can survive on little sleep but it will eventually catch up to you. Without sleep the brain doesn’t function properly and neither does the body. Lack of sleep is a big problem in today’s society with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome to name a few. Something else that affects sleep is stress and anxiety, another reason to control the issues that produce stress.

If you are stressed during the day chances are you wouldn’t forget about what is causing that stress when you go to bed. Your mind will go over and over the events of the day slowing down the process of falling asleep and if you do fall asleep it probably wouldn’t be restful.

What can you do about it…?

1.      Caffeine is an important tool for most people in that it keeps them alert and awake. The problem with caffeine is that is also causes stress, particularly if you drink quite a bit of it during the day.  It isn’t easy but make an effort to cut back on it especially at night.

2.      Meditation is a good way to lose the stress before going to bed.  It takes time to get the hang of it but it is worth the effort.

3.      Cut out late night eating. Less food on your stomach will make sleeping much better.

4.      Exercise is a great way to relieve stress but don’t do it before you go to bed. 

It is also important to remember that lack of sleep can also cause stress, anxiety and depression. Practicing good sleeping habits promotes emotional wellness.

Take care…