Stress

What is stress?
If we think about the causes of stress, the nature of the stress response, and the negative effects of some types of several healthy management strategies become clear.

Stress management
An important step in stress management is exercise. Since the stress response prepares us to fight or flee, our bodies are primed for action. Unfortunately, however, we usually handle our stresses while sitting at our desk or in the car stuck in traffic. Exercise can help avoid the damage to our health that prolonged stress can cause.

Meditation
For centuries in Eastern religious traditions, the benefits of meditation and other relaxation techniques have been well known. One or two 20-30 minute meditation sessions a day can have lasting beneficial effects on health.

Prolonged stress is the problem

We know that chronic or uninterrupted stress is very harmful. It is important, therefore, to take breaks and decompress. Take a lunch break and don't talk about work. Take a walk instead of a coffee break. Use weekends to relax, and don't schedule so many events that Monday morning will seem like a relief. Learn your stress signals. Take regular vacations or even long weekends or mental-health days at intervals that you have learned are right for you.

Two heads are better than one

If you need help dealing with stress, stress-management counselling in the form of one to one  therapy is offered by various mental-health-care providers. Stress counselling and group discussion therapy are proven to reduce stress symptoms and improve overall health and attitude.

Nutrition for stress

There are many vitamins and herbs that may help with stress. A small selection can be found below.