About Stress

Stress is a standard physical response to events that threaten or upset your balance in some way. When danger is sensed – whether real or imagined – the body's defense system switches to action mode in a rapid, automatic process known as the "fight-or-flight" reaction.

The stress response is the body’s way of protecting you. When working at its optimum capacity, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations, stress can in fact save your life – giving you additional strength to protect yourself or spurring you on to act.

The stress response also helps you to rise above yourself and meet unforeseen challenges. Stress keeps you on your toes, sharpens your concentration or drives you to prepare for a battle ahead.

But beyond a certain point, when stress becomes your constant companion, it stops being helpful and starts causing major health anomalies, so much so that, your mood, productivity, relationships and quality of life are all on the line.

Common stress reactions include tension, irritability, inability to concentrate, and a variety of physical symptoms that include headache and a fast heartbeat. Yet, it is almost impossible to live without some stress as it adds spice and excitement to life.

How to seek stress relief?

Seeking relief from stress starts with identifying the each and every source of stress. Most sources aren’t always obvious and could very much be a part of us like stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. There are many healthy ways to seek relief from stress, but they all require change. Either the situation needs to be changed or the reaction. So the best motto would be to adhere to the four A’s: avoid, alter, adapt, or accept.

• Avoid unnecessary stress
Learn how to say ‘no’
Avoid people who stress you out
Take control of your environment
Avoid hot-button topics
Pare down your to-do list

• Alter the situation
Express your feelings instead of bottling them up
Be willing to compromise
Be more assertive
Manage your time better

• Adapt to the stressor
Reframe problems
Look at the big picture
Adjust your standards
Focus on the positive

• Accept the things you can’t change
Don’t try to control the uncontrollable
Look for the upside
Share your feelings
Learn to forgive

• Make time for fun and relaxation
Set aside relaxation time
Connect with others
Do something you enjoy every day
Keep your sense of humor

• Adopt a healthy lifestyle
Exercise regularly
Eat a healthy diet
Reduce caffeine and sugar
Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs
Get enough sleep

What is stress management?
Stress management includes techniques that endow a person with effective coping mechanisms for dealing with psychological stress. This emotional stress is defined as a person's physiological response to an internal or external stimulus that triggers the fight-or-flight response. Stress management is effectual when a person makes the most of strategies to cope with or alter stressful situations.

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