We all encounter stressful situations. Stress is your body’s automatic way of reacting when you are feeling threatened.
Stress is a natural reaction and prepares you for ‘flight or fight’. Your nervous system releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol to prepare your body for an emergency.
Your heart pounds faster to allow blood to rush to where it’s most needed, your breathing quickens, your muscles tighten ready for action and your senses sharpen.
Whilst short bursts of stress can help you to rise to meet a challenge, long periods of stress caused by todays’ busy lifestyle has become common, causing our bodies to be in stress mode when our life is not under threat of imminent death or injury.
Something that you find stressful may not be stressful to someone else. Equally, something that doesn’t cause you stress today may feel un-surmountable at another time. But in the moment you may feel afraid and out of control.
The first thing to do when you recognise that you’re showing signs of stress (whatever they may be for you) is to STOP and acknowledge that you are stressed and that you don’t want to continue feeling like this.
Five activities to reduce stress and gain control.
1. And breathe
Take a few minutes to do some breathing. Here is a breathing technique for you to try that is effective in only a couple of minutes. Breathe in for the count of 3; hold for the count of 3; breathe out for the count of 3 and then hold for the count of 3. Repeat a few times the return to breathing normally. This short exercise should leave you feel much calmer.
2. Channel your inner child
Research has shown that colouring can help you when you are feeling stressed. Colouring relieves stress by helping you to focus on an activity that allows you to take your mind off what is worrying you. Colouring involves logic and creativity which when used together can change the brain waves that are affected by stress.
3. Physical exercise
Physical activity can help you take your mind off your worries, improve your body’s ability to use oxygen and improve your blood flow around your body. Also, exercise increases your production of serotonin which are ‘feel-good’ hormones.
4. Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness helps you to be in the present moment and will help you to deal with stressful situations better.
5. Do something you enjoy
Making time to do something you enjoy can help you to relax and reduce your stress levels. Try a new hobby, something creative, journaling, caring for a pet, doing an art project, have a Reiki treatment, do some decorating, dancing or yoga.
Write down one thing that you can fit into your daily life to help you manage your stress levels.
If you need help recognising and managing your stress levels get in touch for to book a free consultation to see how I can help you.
About Sharon
Sharon lives with her partner Geoff in Warwickshire and they have two adult children. She worked for over 25 years in an office environment, gaining qualifications to degree level in finance, business and management. While there Sharon witnessed and experienced many stressful situations and suffered illnesses which were stress-related.
Sharon was advised to make some changes to her lifestyle which included trying complementary therapies. After experiencing the benefits of complementary treatments, Sharon decided to retrain and to share her knowledge and experiences to help others recognise and manage their own physical and emotional stress and anxiety levels.
She has been working as a complementary therapist for over 15 years now and loves helping people manage and reduce their stress levels to feel uplifted, focused, positive and empowered about their lives.
