There probably isn't a person in the world who hasn't experienced it at some point in their life ? and complained about it! Is stress really a bad thing? Well, the answer to that is both yes and no!



A certain amount of stress can be beneficial. It keeps your mind alert. It prepares your body for work or action. It helps you focus on what you are doing. There are also rare times, usually during a crisis, when it is useful to feel a lot of stress. For example: if you suddenly smell smoke in the room, your heart will start thumping and you will think much more quickly. This will help you move fast to find out whether there is a fire. And when the crisis is over, the stress response will quieten.

However, too much stress is uncomfortable. It robs you of sleep and energy. It keeps you on edge, and makes it difficult to enjoy life. Too much stress is also unhealthy. When the tension builds up, you can experience aches and pains, ulcers, feelings of depression and hopelessness, all of which affects the immune system and makes your body less resistant to illness.

This is why stress management techniques are essential to good health and your quality of life.

Many people only go to the doctor once anxiety and stress set in ? and they are usually prescribed anti-anxiety drugs to alleviate the feelings of nervousness and tension. The downside to tranquilizers is the possibility of becoming addicted to them.

The major problem with taking drugs is that they cannot resolve the causes. They offer short-term relief only. For long-term relief, other anti-stressors must be found.

It is possible to relieve stress without resorting to pills or potions. If you prefer natural methods of stress relief, try the following.

The first way is to CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK. Everything starts with a thought. So, a positive outlook is way more powerful than any drug!

One stress trigger is the feeling of not having enough time. You can alleviate this situation by having a weekly action plan and goal plans in place. This will ensure you are able to MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME and ? more importantly - find time for your self.

Have you noticed that when your body is under stress, your breathing becomes shallower and quicker? The remedy? Slow, gentle breathing to still the mind. Deep breathing helps you relax by slowing your body down and giving it more oxygen, so LEARNING TO BREATHE AND RELAX are important activities in counteracting stress.

BE ACTIVE EVERY DAY ? exercise releases chemicals from the brain which help the body relax.

It isn't possible to over-emphasize how much GETTING A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP is in the war against stress! However, if you go to bed to watch tv, read or anything else other than sleep, you may want to rethink your nightly routine. Turn the tv off and read in the lounge ? let your subconscious know that the main activity in your bedroom is sleep!

COMMUNICATION is another drug-free method of combating stress. There are several ways this can be accomplished: you could talk to a trusted friend or counsellor; you could even write the problem down ? which will assist in identifying the triggers for the stress you may be feeling at the time.