BY Darrin Wohlberg
Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the ever-increasing demands of life… The brain is hard-wired to release a burst of hormones to fuel your capacity for a response when threatened. Once the threat is gone, your body is meant to return to a relaxed state but unfortunately, the nonstop stress of modern life means that your alarm system rarely shuts off.
Without stress management the body is always on high alert and over time, high levels of stress lead to serious health problems!
Stress management can be broken up into 3 components:
PHYSICALLY • Diet: Our bodies use up vitamins and minerals when we are under stress, therefore a healthy balanced diet is crucial. • Exercise: This counters negative effects of stress by increasing beta-endorphins which counter the negative stress hormones and create a sense of wellbeing. • Relaxation: This helps reduce the heightened state of arousal (e.g. music and imagery.)
PSYCHOLOGICALLY • Belief Systems: Relook at belief systems (e.g. ‘Help others before you help yourself” = neglect of self.) • Reframing: The way we think about things determines how we feel about things. Changing your outlook can reduce the intensity of the stress.
PRACTICALLY • Organisation and Time Management: Good planning can help to regain a sense of control and minimize stress. • Focus on what we can control: Be realistic and learn to say no, setting limits on what you can/can't do.