1 in 3 turns to drink to beat stress
A THIRD of men and a quarter of women are hitting the bottle to help them deal with stress, research has revealed.
And 27% of men and 23% of women smoke cigarettes in a bid to reduce stress levels.
Almost 80% of adults polled said they had felt depressed stressed in the past year health charity Developing Patient
Partnerships revealed.
A third of people reported IT related pressures, such as computers crashing at the worst possible moment, as a major
source of stress.
And a quarter were too worried about what their boss would think to take time off because of stress.
DPP spokesperson Dr Rosemary Anderson said: 'It is worrying people are seeking solace in alcohol and cigarettes where
there are many positive things they could do to help themselves cope plus feel better.
The survey of 1.000 adults also recorded there was a good deal of confusion about what stress actually is.
Almost two thirds of people believed it was an illness. Although stress can lead to illnesses, such as depression, it
is not an illness itself.
Others thought stress was simply having a 'bad day', or having 'too much work to do'
DPP launches its Dealing with Stress campaign today. It aims to dispel the stigma surrounding the issue and teach people
how to cope
Metro 12.01.06
Learn to relax
When we are calm, and daydreaming the brain slips into a state called alpha waves. This makes the body release
SEROTONIN, which assists relaxation.
Throughout the day take mini-breaks (time for yourself) sit down, slowly take a deep breath in, hold it and then let
it out slowly. At the same time let your shoulders droop down. Smile, this is important as it encourages the release of ENDORPHINS which are natural tranquilisers.
Practice acceptance. Many people can get extremely distressed over things which they are powerless to change. Basically,
if you can't change it - accept it.
Talk rationally to yourself. Ask yourself what real impact the stressful situation will have on you in a day, week or
month and see if you can let the negative thoughts go. Think through the situation. Is it your problem or someone else's?
If it is yours, approach it calmly and fairly. Planning and goal setting will help with this. Rather than condemn yourself
with after thoughts - thinking of should haves and shouldn't haves - think about what you've learned and make simple, but
attainable plans for the future. However, be realistic. Remember everyone makes mistakes. Try to break plans and tasks down
into smaller units and do the important one's first.
Get organised. Develop a realistic programme of daily activities that includes time for work, sleep, relationships,
family, recreation and of course, yourself. Try using a daily things to do list.
Many people swear by these. Improve your surroundings. Tidy your room, house, shed, garage or wherever it is that you spend
much of your time. Straighten things up and use your time and energy as effectively as possible.
Exercise. Physical activity provides relief from stress. Not only does it remove you from the stressful situation. Just
walking or stretching will help you will help the body to recover its normal state. Try to keep as fit as possible. Try dance,
aerobics, swimming and or jogging. You will find that your energy levels will increase reducing the cycle of stress.
Reduce time urgency. If you are frequently checking your watch or are constantly worrying about what to do with your
time, learn to take things a bit slower. Allow plenty of time to get things done according to plan.
Disarm yourself. Life is not a competition. Approach every situation according to its demands. You don't have to raise
your voice in every conversation. Get your point across to everyone without shouting or screaming, in fact, leave your weapons
behind.
Have a quiet time. Balance your family, social and work life with special events that are both private and good for you.
Indulge yourself. Soak in a hot bath. Listen to beautiful music. Make love. Be you.
Watch your habits. Eat sensibly. A good diet will provide the energy you need during the day. Avoid alcohol and drug
abuse. You need to be mentally fit and physically alert to deal with stress. Try to cut down on excessive use of caffine and
sugar. These cause excitement and can make you hyperactive. Cigarettes also restrict blood circulation and effect the stress
respose.
Talk to friends. They can be your greatest aid. Daily meetings, chats, regular social events, sharing deep feelings and
thoughts reduce stress really well. Laughter is especially good for reducing stress as this releases ENDORPHINS - which are natural tranquilisers and
make you feel happy.
Remember that every time you think that a situation is stressful, your brain tries to help by slipping into a stressed
mode. This is like a conditioned response and as such is an extremely difficult thing to adjust. However, if this stress response
is causing distress it may be an idea to consult a counsellor or possibly even an hypnotist.
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