If you want to help others cope with their stress and relax just a bit, the most important thing is to know what to do. A common problem for stressed out people are others who aggravate the situation while trying only to help. Before you do anything, make sure that you understand the situation and you are 100% sure that you are going to help, not to harm.

Always remember that helping stress-affected people is not some short-time contract. You will have to meet them, talk to them and go out with them for weeks or even months. A single heart-to-heart talk is not enough - only long-term stable relationship is able to give stressed people what they really need - safety and company.

Try to be as close as possible (without being a pain in the neck of course). Ask your stressed friend or family member to go out, invite him or her to a dinner or go together to the cinema. However, the best thing is probably going together to do some physical activities: jogging, tai-chi, martial arts or simply a few hours a week at the gym will help the body regain balance and increase one's stress resistance.

People living under stress for a long time will develop serious problems concerning their problem-solving capabilities. However, at the same time they get better and better in hiding them. Your job as a family member or friend is to look out for the signs of such behavior and offer your help even if you are not asked for assistance. The best thing is to just show interest in one's activities and try to help people by working with them rather than for them.

It is extremely easy to overlook other people's problems. We often ignore the first signs of stress. We don't bother with trying to find out true reasons for our friend's abnormal behaviour: pushing away others, getting annoyed for little or no reason, suffering insomnia or leaving their work. All of that are the signs of stress-induced problems and depression.

Always keep in mind that your job is to be helpful and offer assistance whenever necessary. Your presence is the best gift you can offer to those suffering from stress.