Dealing With Stress (1503)

Stress can occur whenever you experience something that upsets you or your family’s life pattern, it may be a holiday with the relatives, a move, or a new job. While you can’t always eliminate the source of stress in your life, there are a number of things you can do to better cope with stress.

First, you need to recognize that you are stressed. Warning signals may be sleeplessness, headaches, fatigue, conflicts with children. Deeper problems may show up in alcohol or drug abuse, depression, or child abuse. Recognizing the symptoms of stress is an important first step in the coping process.

Try to identify the source of your stress. Like the dog that was kicked by the little boy who was yelled at by his big sister, who was criticized by her mother, you may find it difficult to trace the source of stress. Identifying the source will help you anticipate stressful times and help you take action.

You can control some of the things that are causing stress in your life. You can control whether you purchase a new item when a job layoff looks possible. You can control your attitude or the way you view a situation. A financial emergency may appear to ruin a family vacation, or it can be viewed as an opportunity for a family to relax at home or go camping. You can also control your response to stress. Instead of getting angry, take a walk. Instead of feeling withdrawn, visit with friends. Recognizing the source of stress and taking control helps.

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