Stressful situations always seem to find me. It does not matter how hard I try to keep myself away from them, stress has just become a part of my life. When dealing with stress I began to ask myself a few key questions that helped me to cope with stress so that I would have a better outcome instead of burring my head in a pillow and screaming to the top of my lungs.
Stress is defined, in my own terms, as that overwhelming feeling you get when nothing seems to go right. It is what you feel when the kids start screaming while you are trying to get work done, it is your boss who keeps hounding you about the reports that seem to be never-ending, it is your finances that are piling up on the counter. Stress comes in all shapes and sizes, it is how we handle this stress that will help us to lead a better life.
One question that I started asking myself is, is this going to matter in five years?
If your answer was no, then why make yourself stressed to the point of not being able to function? Every time you get into a stressful situation and you don't think you can recover, just ask yourself this question.
Is there a way to recover from this stressful situation?
Different situations put us in different stressful moods. For instance; if your finances are stacked up so high that you can no longer see the countertop, what would you do to diminish these bills or relieve some of the stress? Could you pick up some extra hours to knock out even one of these? How about calling the collectors and explaining the situation and seeing if you can work out a plan? Other situations that are stressful that you might not be able to do this with is when a loved one dies.
If a loved one recently died, you are going to be stressed out and you are going to have a flood of mixed emotions. This is a touchy subject and I tread lightly when speaking about it. I have had members of my family pass away including a son, and I can tell you that it was one of the most stressful life events that I had ever went through. One thing that I did to help me get through it was, I asked my family and friends to help me out with everyday things such as cleaning the house or helping me to make sure that I paid my bills. It was little things that were stressing me out at this time in my life and I would forget the most easy things because I was too stressed out. If I forgot something, it would make me that much more stressed out so don't be afraid to ask for help.
Do I need to take a time out?
Yes, adults need time outs too. Taking a time out is not a bad idea when stress is becoming too much for you to handle. If you are a parent, set your child down in a safe place and walk out for a couple of seconds, just make sure you stay within ear shot and they aren't placed in an area that could hurt them. If it is your boss that is causing you concern, excuse yourself and go to the bathroom to calm down. If your tire just blew out for the fourth time this month, lay your seat back and close your eyes. Do not think about the situation, this is your time to relax and recuperate. Take a breather.
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