Your Health

Managing stress

We are all familiar with stress. Stress is a major contributing factor to a large number of physical and psychological problems, many of which affect a large percentage of the population at some stage in their lives.

The first important step in stress management involves being aware of when our stress levels have become unhealthy. It is also helpful to find the core reason(s) as to why you have become stressed.

In everyday life, the amount of stress experienced is dependent upon a person’s response to a given situation. Stress itself can lead to chronic illness and exacerbate existing conditions such as coronary heart disease, arthritis and nervous disorders. If you have a chronic illness you are also highly susceptible to stress.

Stressful events can range from downsizing your accommodation to retirement and the transition from one lifestyle to another and more extreme events such as the death of a partner. In order to manage stress at any level, prevention is the best strategy. There are a number of stress management techniques such as muscle relaxation therapy, breathing exercises, exercise, time management and problem solving. A regular daily routine which included a nutritious diet, exercise and regular sleep can help a great deal.

For further information you can visit the HealthInsite website. Additional information and resources are available via the website of the Stress Management Service of Australia, a commercial organisation.