Ideas and Strategies for Coping with Stress

Stress: When it's time to get help
It's important if you are suffering severe symptoms of stress that you seek out specialist advice.
Often the act of unburdening yourself does help to release some of the pressure.

So if you feel that

• your health is being affected by stress
  
• you are unable to cope with normal day to day living
• you are exhausted yet unable to sleep soundly
• you have no appetite for food or life in general
  
• you are isolated and unable to explain your feelings 
• stress is causing you to behave in odd ways
• you are suffering from panic attacks
  

then it is important to speak to someone and to seek specialist advice from your G.P.

The Samaritans provide a confidential service 24hrs a day - so don't bottle it up - speak to someone.
The Samaritans Web site has information on stress, helpful stories and advice on managing stress.

Stress: Bringing you down
So you're not desperate but

• you want to do something to take control of your responses
  
• you want to change the way you live
• you want to develop habits which help you get the most from life

Then there are plenty of ideas to explore

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is thought to be one of the most successful therapies for combatting panic attacks. The therapy helps you explore how you respond to various situations. Helps you to examine different ways to deal with problems and difficulties. CBT looks at how to deal with situations which are affecting you now and in the future rather than going over the initial traumatic events which may have been the source of your current problems.

First published in 1980, Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook)

Meditation techniques can be very valuable in helping you to destress your life. At the bottom of this page is a video extract taken from a Channel 5/ Discovery Channel investigation into how the mummified remains of a Buddhist monk were created. In this extract it shows some of the scientific measurements taken during meditation and discusses the results. Food for thought!

Try out this guided meditation and experience the power of relaxation.