Stress is a normal part of our lives and helps us to function well. However, we all have times in our lives when we encounter periods of excessive stress for one reason or another. It’s important to have a strategy for managing stress on a regular basis to prevent it from building up and affecting us adversely.

• Have a Balance

We need to keep an eye on our work, rest and leisure balance. It is important to try and keep your activities in balance as much as possible and to allow yourself enough time to engage in important things such as relationships and activities that give you meaning and purpose in your life. This helps you to build your resilience to stress. Getting adequate sleep and rest is also important as it helps to re-balance your body and also your mind.

• Relaxation Techniques

Learning relaxation techniques such as mindfulness, visualisation and breathing techniques; and using them on a regular basis, can help you to calm and re-balance yourself.

• Exercise

It’s important to exercise to burn off stress hormones which are potentially damaging to your physical health. Aerobic exercise can help you to burn off stress hormones and also to release endorphins, the ‘feel good’ hormones. If you choose an exercise that you enjoy you are more likely to keep it up.

• Diet

Eating a healthy diet can also help you to combat stress and to replenish some nutritional factors such as b vitamins that may be depleted by prolonged stress.

• Deal with Emotions

Emotional stress can be overwhelming at times. It can block clear thinking.  If you have a tendency towards negative thinking, excessive worrying and reacting adversely to events, relaxation techniques can be of help with this; and you can also seek professional help, if need be. You cannot change what happens but you can learn to change how you react to things.

If you feel overwhelmed by all that you have to do, planning ahead and breaking your tasks down into manageable steps can be helpful.

Stay connected and talk to a friend, it can help.

If you would like professional help dealing with stress, contact Mary at Solution Focused Therapy Dublin and she will be happy to help you.

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