The things we consume impact on our physical and emotional health. Common crutches in stressful situations are cigarettes, coffee and a glass (or two) of wine.<\/p>\n
But they could be making your stress problem much worse. Alcohol is a depressant, nicotine and caffeine are stimulants, waking up your system more than it needs to be \u2013 and the effect is only short term. As soon as it wears off, you may reach for another coffee\u2026<\/p>\n
Try cutting out or reducing the amount of caffeinated drinks you consume \u2013 caffeine isn\u2019t just in coffee, it is in tea, hot chocolate and energy drinks, so check the label \u2013 cut down or stop smoking, and consider giving up alcohol too.<\/p>\n
#2 Increase physical activity The last thing you feel like doing when stressed is physical activity. You may want to pull the curtains closed and curl up on the sofa and try to forget about it all. But, evidence shows that just half an hour of physical activity, especially in fresh air, can lift us out of the depths of stress and despair.<\/p>\n A stress management course will often talk about the benefits of physical activity, with a brisk walk in the fresh air sometimes being enough to offer a different perspective.<\/p>\n #3 Get more sleep<\/strong><\/p>\n Stress interrupts our sleep. And a lack of sleep causes stress. You can see the vicious circle that it could become.<\/p>\n This doesn\u2019t mean relying on medication, although for some people this can be the first step in dealing with lack of sleep. Simple things \u2013 avoiding caffeine after a certain time in the afternoon, making time for physical activity, warm baths, quiet time before bed and so on \u2013 can all have a big impact on falling asleep and having a restful nights sleep when we do.<\/p>\n #4 Try relaxation techniques<\/strong><\/p>\n A stress management course will also talk about relaxation techniques, a proven way for some people to deal with the symptoms of stress.<\/p>\n There are all kinds available \u2013 just take a look online \u2013 or consider taking part in yoga or meditation sessions.<\/p>\n #5 Start talking<\/strong><\/p>\n We become stressed for all kinds of reasons. What can exacerbate it is when we shut down, assuming that no one else is interested or that there is no way that you can be helped.<\/p>\n Talking with friends is one thing, but seeking professional help is sometimes needed. Consider finding a local counsellor or use a telephone listening service such as Anxiety UK<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0Men find it difficult to talk, thinking that by admitting they struggle to cope that they are somehow weak and not manly enough. CALM<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is specifically for young men aged 15 to 35 and there is the Men\u2019s <\/a>Health Forum<\/a><\/strong> too. #6 Keep a \u2018stress diary\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Understanding when and possibly why you become stressed or anxious in some situations is important. This is why some people keep a stress diary. It can be handy to note down a particularly stressful episode, and how you reacted physically and emotionally. Be wary however that sometimes, stress just leaps up when you least expect it, so there may not be a pattern. You may identify common triggers that can be useful to discuss with a health professional.<\/p>\n![\"help](\"https:\/\/www.ncchomelearning.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Simple-Stress-1-1-300x200.jpg\")
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