Stress:Long term effects and coping mechanisms

That's right, STRESS, the Big "S" in our lives. A term widely overused by many of us or out of context when trying to describe our lives and how we are coping with it.  Basically, a definition for Stress states we feel stressed when we feel things are out of control.  It is our ability to cope with potentially stressful situations that is a variable amongst us all and how many of these situations are present at any one point in our lives that can act as the trigger to push us over "the edge".

The table below, known as the Holmes & Rahe scale was invented to measure people's stress levels.  Although since its creation in 1967, some experts have pointed out some faults with it, the table can be used to give an outline to an individual's stress levels.

A score of 300+: you have a high to very high risk of becoming ill

               150-299:moderate to high chance of becoming ill

               below 150: Low to moderate risk of developing stress related illnesses.

So what next?  Stress Management.  To enable us to cope with stressful situations, our body releases the fight or flight hormones to compensate.  Short term this is perfectly normal, but prolonged periods are detrimental to our health.  Our bodies begin failing us in terms of concentration to get things done, accuracy and speed of tasks etc, which in turn fuels the need to be more in control as control begins increasingly to ebb away, creating a viscious circle.  The key to stress management is to control the situation before the flight/fight response kicks in by introducing methods to remain calm. 

Keeping a stress diary can be a good way of indentifying the situations and triggers that cause feelings of stress and from that learning ways of avoiding or changing them so that they no longer produce the stress reaction.  Being honest with yourself is vital to pinpointing triggers of stress.  These diaries can be become very insightful when you take a step back and look at them.  I, personally have done something similar to this.  At first you can feel stupid writing things down, or what's the point, but persevere and patterns start to develop that you can see, and this was the starting point for me making a difference in my life.  Learning time management techniques helped, learning that not everything can be completed everyday and accepting that & not feeling guilty about it afterwards.  One piece of advice I was given, that has stuck with me and sums up the change of mind set I made;  It's called "Fuck it" therapy, and I practice everyday.  It works like this; Each day something will come along we don't like, don't want to do, someone we don't want to see, or similar.  We are allowed one use of this therapy on a daily basis.  So next time a situation comes along we just say "Fuck it" and move on with something else.  The feeling of euphoria I get from this is amazing, and sets me up for other things I have to face.  Not very high tech I admit, but it works for me and I am more in control of things now.

For the less foul mouthed out there, there are many stress reducing techniques that you can find on the web, one is out there that will work for you.  There are the obvious such as yoga, and meditation, and this link gives you tips on coping with various types of stress triggers http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/albrecht-stress.htm

Here's to a less stressful and more chilled out 2013