The good, the bad and the best ways to manage stress

Have you ever had one of those days where you find yourself feeling anxious and overwhelm with life? Whether it's having to turn in an assignment for class or having to care for a sick relative, it seems like there's never enough hours during the day to finish everything. It often seems like there's nothing you can do about your current situation and before you know it...you're overwhelm with stress. Stress is often the feeling we have when under pressure. This may include, work, school, bills, family life, etc. All of these elements can cause major stress in our lives. Now you're probably thinking, this is just everyday life no big deal. However, if stress isn't handle or manage properly, it can cause some major health issues.

Ponder about the ways you currently manage and cope with stress in your life. Are you coping in a healthy or unhealthy manner? Unfortunately, many people cope with stress in ways that compound the problem. The purpose of this blog is to focus on ways to manage stress in a healthy manner. 

Stress warning signs and symptoms include:

•  Anxious or racing thoughts
• Constant worrying
• Seeing or thinking negative
• Moodiness
• Depression or general unhappiness
• Irritability or short temper
• Eating more or less
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Isolating yourself from others
• Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
• Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax 

After looking over the list, do any of the signs and symptoms seem familiar to you? If so...it looks like stress has taken its toll on you. Don't fret, I'm going to let you know the worst and best ways to manage stress.
From my own experience when dealing with stress in the past,  I'm guilty of not handling it in the best way. I'm sure quite a few of you out there can relate as well. So lets get started:

Worst:

•  Smoking: many people deal with stress by smoking Nicotine which is a depressant and it is used by those addicted to cigarettes and other tobacco products to ease stress. Smoking cigarettes can make you feel worse, not to mention it can lead to serious health problems.
• Alcohol: Drinking is definitely not the best way to handle stress. Alcohol is another depressant that can lead to addiction. It has negative impacts on both your psychological and physical health.
• Complete shut down: This happens when you stop functioning because of your stress level has overwhelmed your psychical and mental reserves. When you reach this point, your stress has taken over your life.

Best:

• Exercise: Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Running and yoga are two of my favorites exercises I love!!
• Eat a healthy diet: Well nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress. Start your day with a balanced breakfast. Reduce your caffeine, sugar, and alcohol intake. Here's a link to the article, Foods that help reduce stress by Alex Chris http://www.manageyourlifenow.com/foods-that-help-reduce-stress
• Keep a positive attitude!
• Make time for hobbies and interest: Whether you enjoy painting, cooking, hiking, etc. Make time for the things that bring you joy and happiness.
• Meditation: Take time to reflect and relax :)
• Listen to music: This one is my favorite! I love listening to my favorite bands in order to unwind and put me in a good mood!
• Get plenty of rest: get the proper sleep you deserve by getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep!!
• Stay connected: Maintain healthy relationships with family and friends!

For more information on managing stress please visit: http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/tips-to-control-stress?page=2

So after viewing some of the positive ways of managing stress, how are you feeling? Are you feeling better about handling some of the stresses in your life? If so, I'm so glad I could help!!

For those of you who may need extra support, here is a list of websites I found that may be helpful. Thanks for viewing my blog, please feel free to leave a comment if you have any further questions or suggestions. Also, please feel free to contact me via email: akatab1598@yahoo.com

Helpful links:
blogaboutstress.com
http://m.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/quit-smoking
http://m.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/alcohol-abuse-alcoholism
stress.about.com/od/lowstresslifestyle/a/meditation.htm

References:

Nordqvist, C. (n.d.). What is stress? how to deal with stress. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145855.php

Sebastian, E.R. (2009). 5 bad ways to deal with stress. Retrieved from http://m.voices.yahoo.com/5-bad-ways-deal-stress-377876.html

Stress management. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://m.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-managements

Stress symptoms, signs & causes. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://m.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-signs

Tips to control stress. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/tips-to-control-stress?page=2

Images retrieved from Google.com