Stress, Relaxation

While ideally December is a month of joyful sharing with family and friends, it can also harbor a fair amount of stress. Let’s face it-the holiday rush is on, and no matter how much planning is done, unexpected events are likely to
occur. Stress, when not properly managed- can translate into unwelcome tension headaches and migraines.

Stress can affect anyone, and in small doses it is not necessarily a bad thing. Average amounts of stress can keep you alert and ensure that tasks are completed and deadline met. Essentially stress is life’s little push that often helps us to cope.

For some people, nervousness can be quite incapacitating and leave them feeling terror-struck at a time when clear thinking and togetherness are required. It’s difficult to impress a future employer in an interview, or inspire an audience, if your hands are shaky and sweaty, your mind is blank and you’re trying so hard to catch your breath that talking is an after thought.

Burnout is a term that is given to a state of physical or emotional exhaustion. It is most commonly attributed to work or a particular task, but can also be related to stressful relationships and roles (e.g. parenting or caring for an
aged family member). A person experiencing burnout simply feels as though they are going through the motions, and often have already lost interest in everything and experience a lack motivation to push forward. They become ineffective at their job, and just the effort of going to work depletes their energy. Feelings of powerlessness, resentment and hopelessness are commonly experienced.

Dealing with anger positively enables you to put negative emotions into perspective. When you want to let off steam, feel frustrated or upset, there are constructive ways to channel your anger like listening to music, running or going to the gym. These are often used in treating anger disorders.

Stress is a part of daily life. It’s how we react to it that makes all the difference in maintaining our health and well-being. Pressures occur throughout life and those pressures cause stress. You need to realize that you will never completely get rid of stress in your life, but you can learn coping techniques to turn that stress into a healthier situation.