subject: The Best Ways to Relieve Stress [print this page] We have all faced stressful situations in our lives. Perhaps now more than ever we are faced with problems that seem overwhelming. This causes us to feel anxious and tense, maybe even afraid. When we allow stress to dominate our lives, life seems to be unmanageable. It is time to take charge and fight back with effective stress relieving techniques.
Perhaps the first thing we need to do is to assess our stressful situation. Is there something we can do to fix it? Many times we feel stress because of situations we have caused or that we can change. If you are having a disagreement with your boss or a coworker, get the issues out into the open and discuss them. It may be hard to initiate a solution, but by doing so you will free yourself from the stress that will just hang on and grow if you don't take care of it. There are many situations in our lives that if we just face them head on we will be able to avoid unnecessary worry and anxiety.
Is the situation out of your control? No matter how much we want to, we cannot control the economy, the weather, or the decisions of others. If it is out of your circle of influence you have to let it go. Worrying about something you cannot fix will just create more stress in your life and can lead to health problems as well.
Whether you decide to take action or let it go, you need to learn to deal with the stress that comes from the problem before it consumes you. Not dealing with stress and anxiety can cause emotional and physical health problems. So here are some ideas to help you find ways to release your stress and allow peace to come into your life.
Many times we find ourselves consumed with worry when we are bored. When the mind has nothing to keep it busy it tends to wander. And often times it takes off to the what ifs and whys of our lives. When you feel yourself going down that road of anxiety, find something else to keep you busy. Read a book, go for a walk, or watch a fun movie. Replace the negative thoughts with positive ones. Soon you will find that doomsday thinking will be coming around less and less.
If you find that this doesn't help, try practicing yoga or meditation. Both of these practices help you to focus your mind and regroup your thinking. Yoga is a wonderful way to strengthen both your body and mind. Mediate by going into a quiet room, make yourself comfortable and just let the negative thought leave your mind. You can play soft, new age music that will help your mind relax and become free from the stressful thoughts.
Some people are still unable to free themselves from the anxiety and stress by using these methods. If needed, see a health care professional for further help. Some situations require counseling and sometimes medication to help overcome the stress.
We will always be faced with stress, but we don't need to let it over take us. Take a stand and reclaim your life. You can be stress free and enjoy life!
