Strategies for reducing different kinds of stress

Stress is how you respond physiologically or psychologically to any kind of demand. In certain instances, some stress can actually be a positive force. It helps motivate people to solve problems, take action or perform to their best ability. However, other kinds of stress can wreak havoc on our lives and ultimately lead to long-term health consequences. To avoid these consequences, it's important to get a handle on your stress condition as soon as possible.

The impact that stress has on any individual person can vary dramatically, since people are affected in unique ways. Despite this, there are some common symptoms that are often attributed to excessive stress. The symptoms can be Fatigue and Exhaustion, Headaches, Weakened Immunity, Decreased Sex Drive, Anxiety, Difficulty Sleeping and Anger and Frustration. Sometimes it may seem that there’s nothing we can do about our stress level. The bills aren’t going to stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day for all our errands, and career or family responsibilities will always be demanding. But we have a lot more control than we might think. In fact, the simple realization that we’re in control of our life is the foundation of stress management.

Stress is actually broken down into four distinct types. These are known as Eustress (is defined as a healthy type of stress), Distress (it can be termed the bad stress and can lead to many illnesses and diseases), Hyperstress (this occurs when a person is pushed beyond their limit) and Hypostress (Hypostress is a type of stress that rarely gets a mention This stress happens when someone is bored or unchallenged, like a worker on an assembly line). Chronic stress is the worst type of stress you can face. This is because it is unremitting and will eventually cause the body to break down. The key to reducing chronic stress is to deal with the source of the stress or to have an outlet that allows you to relax or calm down. These two strategies are easy to implement provided the person acknowledges that they are under stress. This is often the hardest part of the problem.

As stress is often caused by the environment around you, there are things you can do to reduce stress levels. If you cannot control your external environment, then you must work on controlling your reaction to it. Stress is as much about how you perceive it as the actual stressor, thus by controlling your reaction to the stressor you can limit the degree to which stress affects you. A large part of reducing stress involves finding new ways to both limit and manage the stress in your life. Relaxation strategies, communication techniques and exercise are just a few of the different types of stress management techniques that experts recommend. Yoga, deep breathing, massages, jogging and talking to a friend can all be great ways to deal with stress you are experiencing. Meditation is one of the most common, effective, and affordable stress reduction techniques. During meditation, the individual practices focusing, uncritically, on a single object, word, or sound. By paying focused attention to breathing, a candle flame, a flower, the meditation practitioner learns to be aware of thoughts without being consumed by them, and to live in the moment. This has the benefit of preventing the highs and lows of emotion that are associated with a stressed state.
Personality and lifestyle play a role in choosing an appropriate stress management technique. For example, extroverted people that tend to feel better when they're around others may want to join a yoga class. Since everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no “one size fits all” solution to managing it. No single method works for everyone or in every situation, so experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control. It is always a good idea to tune in to your own body and find out what strategies work best for you. Consider some of the things you enjoy, and then think about whether these activities would work as part of your stress management plan.

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