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5 Things You Must Know About Stress Management

In the modern day world, stress is considered as a common psychological phenomenon. Stress is a normal physical response that make you feel threatened or upset your mental balance psychologically. The stress response is the inbuilt body function of protecting you. In emergency situations, stress helps your mind and body stay sharp, alert and energetic. Stress might be helpful in life threatening situations or even in concentrating on a simple task. But chronic stress can lead to physical health problems and even cause depression. It is therefore, very important to manage stress in our daily lives. Here, are 5 things you must know about Stress Management :

1. It is very important to have a social life i.e. a strong network of friends and family. Try to discuss your frustrations with family members or friends. Joining a social group might be helpful. You could also visit a psychiatrist and ask for his/her advice. Isolation on the other side, increases your vulnerability to stress.

2. Confidence is another important factor. If you have confidence in yourself and your ability to influence events and persevere through challenges, it's easier to take stress in stride. People who are vulnerable to stress feel like things are out of their control.

3. Among different ways to manage stress, there are a few unhealthy ways of coping with stress. These strategies may temporarily reduce stress, but they cause more damage in the long run. Some of them are:

a. Alcohol Consumption (Drinking)

b. Overeating or under eating

c. Social Withdrawal (from family and friends)

d. Oversleeping

e. Usage of pills or relaxation drugs.

f. Procrastinating

g. Violent Behavior (engaging in physical violence or angry outbursts) Involving yourself in other activities like listening to calm music, watering your garden, reading or even craft-work could help you deal with stress.

4. Sitting hours in front of a television is an another factor that can lead to stress. On any given day, the most stressful activity one might undertake is watching the television. A common misinterpretation one might have is that watching television is one of the biggest source of continual, low-level, "fight-or-flight" stress in our daily lives. The "fight-or-flight" response is a mechanism where our body responds to a life-threatening stimulus by secreting adrenalin and increase in heart and breathing rates and also muscle tension. The content on the television does stimulates our bodies by pupil dilation, chest tightening, increase in heart rate, lactate, adrenalin and noradrenalin building up in our bodies but our body is just static. It is not used the way it should be, during such cases. It is intended to be used in life threatening situations like fighting or running from danger. Instead, we are just seated. So, there is no natural release which is a case of unnecessary wear and tear as the part of our brain that controls stress cannot distinguish between a real and an imaginary event.

5. Your ability to deal with emotions is another factor that contributes to stress. If you are unable to calm yourself when you feel sorry, afraid or angry, it could make you extremely vulnerable to stress. Even inability to accept the facts of life physically as well as emotionally could lead to stress. You must have an optimistic attitude toward life. You must also have a strong sense of humor to deal with difficult situations.