At some point in life, every one of us will deal with some type of stress. Stress is unavoidable but how you deal with it is key. It may seem that there is nothing you can do about your stress level. The bills aren’t going to stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day for all your errands, and your career or family responsibilities will always be demanding. You actually have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management. Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun; plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.
To effectively manage negative stress you must first identify what is causing it and then determine how you currently cope with the stress in your life. If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater emotional and physical health, it’s time to find healthier ones.
There are many healthy ways to manage and cope with stress, but they all require change. You can either change the way you view the particular situation or change your reaction to the situation. Learning to effectively manage stress can be stressful in itself but counseling can help you.