How to Beat Stress: Acknowledge It

Stress is a certainty in our fast-paced society. Martin Mayer, new age music composer and Director of Sounds That Soothe, advises sufferers of stress to admit the problem and ask for help.

Rush-hour traffic… being left On-hold… Crashing computers… Annoying commercials… Interfering relatives… Slow service… No service… Late for your appointment… Can’t get a taxi… Race to reception… Appointment cancelled……. Aaaaaaaaargh!!!!!!!!

Stress is waiting to squash us down and turn our lives upside down. Juggling work life and home life can be next to impossible when all the separate elements of our life come together. Sometimes it feels like we are spinning hundreds of plates – faster – and faster – and faster simply waiting for one to crash down. Stress is a debilitating, self-perpetuating condition. As we worry about one problem we lose focus and tend to cause others.

The key to beating stress like any other problem is to acknowledge it. Admit to yourself that stress is affecting your life. Okay, but how do you know that stress IS affecting your life? Many people suffer stress that has built up over a long period of time and come to expect it. They perceive stress as a normal part of there life. They may also be worried about what others will think. If you are concerned that a friend or family member may be suffering from stress, what are the symptoms?

Stress shows up emotionally, physically and mentally. Amongst other physical symptoms someone suffering from stress may experience headaches, nausea, indigestion and diarrhoea, sleeplessness and increased heart rate. Sufferers may become very emotional and quickly change mood becoming: anxious, angry, nervous, hostile or depressed. Mental function can also be impaired as stress often affects memory function and concentration. Stress can lead to poor and illogical decision making.

If you are getting annoyed or stressed in a certain situation, simply try to avoid it or make it less stressful. Unless you need to be in that place find somewhere else to be or something else to do or a different way to do it. On the other hand, if the situation can not be avoided, a simple relaxation technique can be used to calm you.

Those suffering from long-term stress would be well advised to consult their doctor. It would be unusual for a doctor to prescribe drugs to reduce the effects of stress before reviewing the patient’s lifestyle and possible causes of the stress. Working for long hours in a stressful environment, financial problems or an unhappy family life are just a few of the possible triggers.