FH Stress
Some guidelines to winning against daily stress
What is Stress?
- Stress is your response to the pressures of life, both internal and external.
- These responses can make you feel uncomfortable
- It can also be a feeling that you have lost control over your life.
Is stress always bad for you?
- EUSTRESS is good stress which stimulates you, makes you efficient and releases energy. This comes when you believe in and enjoy what you do.
- DESTRUCTIVE STRESS is stress which makes you feel anxious and creates muscular tension. It also prepares the nervous system to fight or run.
What causes stress?
- Many different things:
- Fear, repressed anger, unrealistic goals
- Overwork, change, low self esteem
- Too much pressure, negative thinking
- OR poor living or working environment.
What are some common stress symptoms?
- Sleeplessness - frequent waking in the wee hours
- Headaches - pressure feelings inside the head.
- Palpitations - pain in the chest
- Difficulty in Praying
- Trouble Relaxing - knots in the stomach and feelings of discomfort
- Hyperventilation - over breathing (more air than needed)
- Lack of concentration - frequent memory lapses.
- Indecisiveness, irritability, tension/pain in the back of the neck, apathy and "down" feelings.
- Change in appetite, loss of enjoyment of life.
Get better balance in your life
- The balance in our life - the balance between work and play, time out and time with others, physical and mental activity.
Practise the skill of daily relaxing
- Learn this skill, or listen to a relaxation tape.
Get daily exercise
- It breaks mental and physical tension.
Think Positively
- It has a beneficial effect on mind and body
Always take action, don’t freak out
- Deal with problems constructively
Cut down your poison intake
- Cigarettes, alcohol, food with artificial colourings, flavouring, preservatives, stabilisers etc. Chemical sprays and fumes.
Listen to your body, what’s it saying?
- Set your stress safety limits, say "NO" more, take time out.
Discover the value of prayer as a stress breaker
- God is on your side. Call on Him daily for strength, support and guidance.
Support People, your network
- No person is an island, we all need support. Share your burdens, share your load
Express yourself assertively
- Don’t bottle things up. Be aware of other people’s rights and feelings too. Attack the issue, not the person.
Build your self acceptance
- Try and move towards accepting yourself as a person unconditionally, but focus instead on what you can change, your thinking and behaviour
Set long and short term goals
- It is easy to be stressed when you have no sense of direction
Practise deep breathing daily
- Slow, deep breathing (from the diaphragm) for 45 seconds, is an instant tension reliever. It is also very good for your health.
So do not worry about tomorrow - it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.
Gospel of Matthew
Don’t worry about anything but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus. Philippians. 4:6-7
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