A Guide to Coping with Stress

Stress is an unavoidable factor in anyone's lives these days. Whether it is through work, family, school or other situations, stress is a dangerous and silent monster. Stress can pop up at anytime, and has an adverse effect on a number of things, from your general well-being, to your heart, to your sleeping habits, to your interpersonal relationships. Stress can make good things bad, and bad things worse. Coping with stress is an important skill today, and something that they simply don't teach in school. Here are a couple of tips for coping with stress.

One of the first things you need to know when coping with stress is your "stressor(s)". This is the circumstance, food, drink, or place that heightens your feelings of stress. Some of these are obvious: a high-pressure job. Others aren't so simple, such as particular dietary choices. Learning about what stresses you out is a key first step in coping with stress.

Knowing what stresses you out is sometimes all it takes; being aware of your stressors will sometimes eliminate themselves. Many people "feel" stress by feeling helpless and unknowledgeable. Many people feel better simply knowing what is going on. Obviously, if this isn't the case, you would do well in coping with stress by eliminating the circumstances that stress you out. Some of this is impossible; you can't get rid of your kids because they stress you out. But you would be surprised what getting some babysitting once in while "just for a break" could do to help with that. That is to say, if you can't eliminate the stressor, perhaps you can minimize it or cut back.

Finally, you might have a stressor that you can't get rid of or diminish. In this case, I follow my dad's advice: deal with it. This isn't some John Wayne, tough-love stuff, either. He meant, deal with the stress, as in, find a way to "de-stress". Many people find that exercise, a natural mood-booster, also works greatly in lowering stress levels. Apart from exercise, there are many de-stressing activities. To cope with your stress, find one of these activities and set aside time for it each day.

Coping with stress is important, and not just for your mood. Stress has been linked as a major risk factor in a number if illnesses, especially heart disease. Stress also makes your immune system weaker, making you more susceptible to common colds and flus. Removing or reducing stress, as well as finding de-stressing activities are crucial when coping with stress, and, by default, improving your life.