Stress Management – how do you deal with your daily stress levels ?

Many people wouldn't think that they have implemented a formal stress management program in their lives. Most people don't really analyse it that much. Most people could tell you what they believe is stressing them out and in most cases they would be right. They have their own methods to relieve stress.

A common method, many years ago, was to smoke a cigarette. People still use this method today, to relieve stress, despite the plethora of medical reports that suggest that cigarettes have exactly the opposite effect.

Other people use alcohol to “let off a bit of steam”. A few beers after work is practically a right of passage for many office workers. Notice all the bars and pubs that are dotted throughout your central business district and you can see that society has always encouraged the use of alcohol as a way to relieve stress. This flies in the face of current research that suggests that, in the long term,  alcohol only increases stress levels.

Other traditional “self-help” stress management techniques are to engage in physical activities. Going to the gym, playing squash, jogging or playing a team sport are effective methods of relieving and managing stress. Adrenaline is produced by the body when it experiences difficult or distressing situations. Adrenaline is used by the body as a turbo boost of energy which can change the biochemistry within the body, notably the blood.

This condition is known as the 'fight or flight' response which has helped man is times gone to fight or run away from dangerous animals or enemies. This response by the body still exists but is triggered in modern times by things like paying the mortgage on time or sitting in a traffic jam for hours. The playing of squash or similar activities is the modern equivalent of running away from animals and is seen as a way to release the tension and stress in the body that may have been built up from more modern stressors. It is a way to convert bad stress into good stress.

Another 'self-help' method is to take a hobby. Hobbies can vary in terms of the type of good stress that the aspiring hobbyist wants to take on. For instance, there is a marked difference between skydiving and gardening as potential hobbies.

Hobbies give a person the ability to learn knew things, challenge themselves but always be in control of the level of stress that they might experience. If, for instance, they found the stress level involved with learning to skydive too much they could simply quit and try something else. Similarly with gardening, they might not be stimulated by growing tomatoes and try something else. Above all, hobbies give the person a sense of achievement that might be lacking in their daily life. This sense of achievement can help to relieve the mental stress caused by a boring or repetitive job.

Many studies have noted the influence that pets can have on their owners stress levels. Caring for a pet, much like a hobby, can give the owner a sense of achievement and responsibility for caring for another life. Watching the pet grow and develop can sooth and relieve stress.

On a professional level, there are many techniques that exist. Popular techniques include deep breathing exercises and mind refocus exercises. These techniques can be learned through videos or books or by taking courses with practitioners. Yoga is an instance of a technique that can be learned easily for little cost.

The main type of drugs that could be taken for stress are antidepressants. Drugs are really just a short term fix and should not be seen as a solution to your problems. It is advised that you visit a doctor who will determine whether and what type of drug you would need.  

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