It is normal to feel overwhelmed, burnt-out or stressed due to extreme demands on our lives. Identifying what causes us stress and how we/our body responds to stress is a helpful starting point for exploring our own personal stress problems and then dealing with them in ways that will help us get most out of life.

Let’s look at what happens to us when we become stressed:

Some of the symptoms of stress reflect our mood resulting in anxiety, feeling tense, unable to concentrate, becoming confused or forgetful and negative thought patterns. Physiological symptoms may include exhaustion, headaches, increase in heart-rate, dizziness, high blood-pressure, low back pain etc. Behaviour that may result due to stress, relate to appetite (an increase or decrease), alcohol/substance abuse, sleeplessness, short-tempered, withdrawn, unmotivated etc.

Now that we have identified what happens to us mentally, emotionally and physically when we become stressed, let us look at what causes us to become stressed.

Some of the causes may include: fears or anxiety for exams or class presentations, time pressure, threat of losing job, financial difficulties, breakdown of relationship, difficulty getting on with flatmates, loss of health, heavy responsibility, social isolation, homesickness, feelings/thoughts of not being worthwhile and lack of balance between work and relaxation.

Awareness helps us to make changes and take control of our life, hence managing our stress. This is a natural response because some of the signs and symptoms of stress experienced are uncomfortable or painful. Once you have awareness and accept things as they are in the present, you create the space to make the necessary changes you want.

Some helpful strategies for managing stress include:

• Physical strategies such as walking, gardening, time-out, swimming, yoga, tai-chi, exercise, eating healthy/nutritious food, adequate sleep, deep breathing exercises, visualization, massage, music, dancing.
• Social strategies that are helpful include humour, friends and positive people.
• Spiritual is having quiet-time for yourself, prayer/or meditation.
• Self-Management is incorporating time-management, goal setting and assertive communication styles.
• Cognitive strategies involve checking/monitoring and reframing self-talk to be more helpful and constructive.

To learn techniques of managing stress, please make an appointment with a Counsellor at the Health & Counselling Centre, ph 443-9783, Building 100, Gate 5, Oteha Rohe Campus.