Stress

I'm Going To Be Less Stressed!

Life places many demands upon all of us. It is the effect of an accumulation of these demands on our bodily responses, feelings, thoughts and behaviour which is commonly known as stress.

Stress however, doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing, it can be what spurs us on to improved performance in all aspects of our lives. However, what most people perceive as stress is unpleasant and can be triggered by a wide range of life events, eg, by a death in the family, marital problems, pregnancy, trouble with in-laws, retirement, change in job, conflict at work, injury, moving house and financial problems. This list is almost endless. Any one of these things might be responsible for causing stress, but it is more likely a person will experience a number of difficulties in their lives at the same time.

The effects on us of difficult life events can be just as numerous eg, palpitations, butterflies, nausea, sweating, sleeplessness, indigestion, these are just a few of the ways our bodies can react. We may feel anxious, afraid or angry, depressed and lost. Our thinking may change and become negative and our behaviour will also be affected.

Before any change can take place, we first need to recognise the problem. Look at what is happening in our lives and what has changed recently. Write down anything you identify and how it affects you in terms of the way you think, feel and behave. You may find you can tackle some of the things on the list, some however may be hard to solve unaided. Learning to relax can be very useful so try and find out what helps you to relax. It might be playing music, reading a book, or taking part in a sport. There are many books or cassette tapes or other aids that you may find helpful.

Taking regular breaks at work. Eating properly and taking regular exercise can also help. Don't assume that you always have to cope alone. Seek support from family and friends, managers or work mates.

Chris Portues
CPN Team Leader.

Brad Cheek 1998