Identifying Stress and How to Manage It

Stress is one of your body’s negative emotional responses.

Whether it comes as a result of mental or physical strain, it’s something you don’t need.

Stress can develop in many areas of your life:

• Work life
• Social Life
• Home life
• Anywhere!

And it doesn’t just affect us adults. Believe it or not, even newborn babies can feel the effects of stress.

Even with a deep passion and love for what you do, stress can sometimes be unavoidable. And, although there are different types of stress, if your stress reaches a chronic state, it can be harmful and overwhelming for you, both emotionally and physically.

Stressing over work deadlines, relationships, home life, can definitely bring you down and make you feel like your world is closing in. Feeling like your stuck in a hopeless situation, and your stress is just too much to bear. 

It doesn’t have to be like that

Our bodies and minds are built to fight stress, and although it may not seem like it… 

you can have more control over it than you might think.

 

The core idea is knowing that you are in control of every pillar of stress in your life. You need to start by figuring out your stress triggers.

discovering these triggers can be the difference between awakening your positive energy (enabling you to start living a minimal to stress-free life). Or, staying stressed and miserable…

Stress management is built on the core foundation of realising that you are in control of your life

Managing stress involves identifying what causes it and becoming aware of your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours.

Types of stress you can feel

There are 2 main categories of stress, although it may not always feel like you can put your stress in a box.

1. Acute stress

This is also known as the fight-or-flight response, which is your body’s reaction to any perceived scare, challenge or threat. Acute stress is often intense and immediate, and in certain situations, it can be thrilling.

2. Chronic Stress

This type of response is understated as compared to acute stress; however, its results may be problematic and long lasting.

Tips for recognising stress signs

Identifying stress signs, at an early stage, enhances the likelihood that you will be able to

1. overcome it
2. Take the required actions to handle the symptoms and the causes
3. And therefore, minimise long term damage to your health and well-being

 

Do you have any of the stress signs? 

• When you are stressed your physical appearance may change.

Do your eyes look ok? Lack of sleep can cause under eye bags and give your face a general tired look. When stressed you’re not going to be thinking so much about eating correctly. This can result in your body lacking vital nutrients and water, leaving your skin to become dry and flakey

AND, if you already suffer with skin issues, be it

• acne
• eczema
• psoriasis

there is a high chance, during stressful times, your symptoms will flare up.

• You may also notice a change in your normal behaviour

For instance, you may start to have withdrawal tendencies.

It’s a common reaction to start withdrawing and isolating yourself from your friends and family. Loved ones may even start noticing more irritability or uncharacteristic behaviours. These are big signs, that your body is currently under stress, and should not be ignored.

• Lacking concentration is another sign of stress

Have you been finding yourself drifting in and out of conversations and discussions without any idea what has actually been going on? It’s probably time to

1. take a break
2. relax
3. change your situation
4. Time for a week off?

• Work is the last thing on your mind

Have you been late for work recently? If your stress is affecting you and your work, you may find yourself reporting late or even avoiding work in general since your emotions have taken the better part of you.

Unfortunately, mental health days aren’t viewed the same way as physical health days in many workplaces, and for some, it’s still a taboo subject. But, change is on the way. 

Ways to manage stress

Evidently, it’s important to take charge, and control the stress patterns in your life. Below are a few ways you can manage stress and attempt to live a happy, stress-free life. Whilst, avoiding as much strain or hassle as possible.

 

1. Identify the cause of the stress

It is vital to identify what you are stressed about. Is it an upcoming exam, a particular work project, quarrels with your boss or a dispute with your spouse? By pinpointing the specific cause of stress in your life, it can be the first step in getting organised and taking the necessary actions.

2. Work on what you can control

It is next to impossible to control what happens to you in different environments, be it what your employer’s actions might cause, the economic state of your country, what your spouse says/does to you, among others.

But, you can control how to react to the situation

For instance, you can choose to get worked up about something your friends said about you or you can opt to ignore their opinion entirely. Trying to control the uncontrollable, just makes matters worse. Since, when you fail to control them, you only feel helpless and more stressed out.

3. Know how to manage your time well

One of the biggest cause of stress is that many people have a long to do list with little time allocated to each task. Therefore, when time flies they only achieve a small percentage of their work and eventually rush at the last minute.

Time management or as others call it life management is so important. Prioritising your day list first thing in the morning, or even the night before is a must.

4. Relax

Learn to have find time for everything. In that, when it is time to work, utilise the time well, and when it is the time to relax make the absolute most of it.

• Book an appointment at your local spa and enjoy
• Run a long bath with candles and bath bombs
• Catch up on that tv show
• read a gossip column
• or even try out new activities that you have always wanted to try but never had the chance to do

Even just hanging out with friends with a glass of wine and deep meaningful chats can be unbelievably relaxing.

5. Embrace mistakes

Being a perfectionist, may seem like a positive trait, but it isn’t always the best way to be. It can be anxiety provoking and exhausting. Since, as soon as something goes wrong or not as expected, the fuses in your brain blow and stress kicks in. 

Some of the greatest things in life come from imperfections.

• It’s the break in Adele’s voice that makes it so stunning.
• The leaning tower of Pisa is so beautiful due to its curves
• Heck, my favourite shorts are literally the most torn up, ripped denim shorts.

A happy life begins with taking care of you. Draining your energy on mistakes you’ve already made is not beneficial to your well-being, or even the wellbeing of those around you.

Focus:

• on you
• on your life
• and on all the positives

Look for the positives around you, as hard as that may seem, even in some of life’s worst times, silver linings are around. It’s time you start looking for yours.