How to combat stress

Stress amongst youngsters and adults is common for different reasons. Some of the causes are, intense work load, guilt and worry because you feel you are neglecting some work in order to keep up with or complete another. The following ways can help you overcome stress:



1. Design a timetable in correlation with deadline dates. This will help you plan your work and also keep up with it.


2. Don't hesitate in asking for help if you have trouble understanding something. Don't give up if the first or second attempts at asking yield no results.


3. Lack of self-confidence can lead to feelings of isolation and depression. Anxiety at the thought of approaching others may block the ability to make friends, but it is surprising how approachable and friendly most people are. Be the first to strike a conversation.


4. If you are unsure of your work, ask a friend to take a look at it and give some helpful tips. The more you practice something, the easier it becomes. Remember learning from past mistakes and understanding one's own weaknesses enables improvement.


5. Talking to a counsellor helps in expressing feelings of anxiety. Never feel ashamed of expressing these feelings. Another method is to sit back and think about how many people have not achieved what you have achieved till date.


6. Lastly take time out from your hectic schedule and plan outings with family and friends. This will rejuvenate your spirits.


To cope with stress effectively, start keeping a detailed diary. This will help you identify the situations that cause the most stress. If there are certain patterns, they will be pinpointed. You will also understand whether they do or do not work for you, you can plan alternative strategies to avoid similar feelings of stress in the future. You must be honest and look at your responses objectively. Carry your diary with you all the time and, as far as possible, record your observations periodically, as soon as the stressful event has occurred. That will make your assessment more accurate. Check your records after a week. With this information, you be able to chalk out your stress-busting campaign.



Find Out:


1. Which situations caused you the most stress and why?

2. Are the stress factors internal or external?

3. Has change caused the stress or has it been because of something you felt was imposed on you?

4. How do you look at events that caused the stress?

5. What is your preventive defence mechanism against stress?

6. Do you think your responses were right?

7. Do you think you could have coped better had you adopted a different method?