Combatting stress and tension is part of most peoples agenda at some time or other during. Here we give some useful self-help options for occasional suffers.
Scroll down to take part in the stress quiz - either print off the page or have a pen and paper handy to note down your scores.
Stand up to your stress and tension
There are five main areas that you can address to help you to combat stress and tension:
- Taking the right fuel into your system (including sensible eating, drinking water and taking appropriate supplements)
- Regular exercise whether that is a regular brisk walk, aeorobic gym type exercise or the more relaxing Yoga style exercise.
- Ensuring that you achieve quality sleep and deep relaxation periods.
- Laughter
- Avoiding conflict (this includes internal conflict and does not neccessarily mean walking away)
- Nutritional Advice at our new drop-in facility or more in depth advice by appointment.
- We have a range of exercise classes including:
- Hatha Yoga - traditional posture type yoga delivered in the time honoured way to develope physical and mental awareness
- Yin Yoga - a very relaxing style which stretches the parts that other Yoga can't reach. Postures are held and relaxed into.
- Dru Yoga - a flowing, gentle style
- Circle Dancing - easy and repetitive steps encouraging awareness and almost meditive dance.
- Eating correctly and getting sufficient exercise will help towards good sleep patterns and all of the excerises in item two will help towards deep relaxation. Some therapies can also help with this.
- Hypnotherapy can help you to train yourself to sleep and also help you to learn deep relaxation
- Acupuncture can help release some of the blockages in your energy system thus promoting good sleep patterns
- Massage can help relax your body - promoting good sleep and relaxation as muscular tensions are released.
- Reflexology can help in a similar way to massage and acupuncture by releasing blocked energy.
- Our laughter classes and workshop are an excellent way to laugh yourself into a new 'frame of mind'. Regular practise at anything makes you more proficient over time. Practising laughter will not only offer instant benefit through all the energies and hormonal reactions but it will also help you to laugh a little easier at life in general. As a by-product you also get considerable exercise from laughter as your face and stomach muscles are toned and energised.
- Avoiding conflict is probably the hardest one to deal with on an instant level. It does not neccessarily mean walking away from situations as you may then be creating more conflict within. however, you can avoid situations where you know conflict is a potential.
Why not take the test below to see just how much life does stress you.
How much of a stress-head are you?
Answer each question below as honestly as you can. Make a note of the scores in brackets after your answer. Add up all your answer scores then go to the bottom and see what your score says about your level of stress. You do need to choose an answer for each question. If you don't think any of the answer are perfect choose the nearest. And remember, it's what you would do ... not what you would like to do!
a) point out the error and ask them to choose another line. (1)
b) Don’t let it bother you (3)
c) Get annoyed and feel sorry for someone who is so inconsiderate of others (2)
- The cable goes in the middle of a programme you have been waiting to see, do you
a) shrug your shoulders and think it will be on again (3)
b) rant and rave about how disappointed you are (1)
c) all the cable company and report the problem (2)
- After buying food at a drive through you realise it is wrong, do you
a) go back and yell at the Manager asking for a refund (1)
b) complain to everyone around you and pick at the food (2)
c) eat it and enjoy it anyway (3)
- Someone is talking when you are at the cinema what do you do
a) shush very loudly (2)
b) move seats (3)
c) inform the manager (1)
- You lose money in the vending machine do you
a) just try another one (3)
b) sometimes kick the machine or shake it depending on how hungry you are (2)
c) Kick and shake it every time (1)
- In a crowded car park you notice someone has parked so that they are taking up two spaces do you
a) leave a note on their car pointing out their inconsideration (1)
b) think about scratching the car but drive on (2)
c) drive on until you find a space (3)
- Only one cashier is open at the bank despite a long queue what do you do
a) check to make sure you have filled everything in so that you will be a quick as possible.(3)
b) Roll your eyes and sigh loudly checking your watch (2)
c) complain loudly to customers around you (3)
- In a restaurant people coming in later than you have got their food first do you
a) feel you are being overlooked and complain to the waitress (2)
b) think that your food must be taking longer to cook (3)
c) lose your appetite and leave (1)
a) Honk loudly and make obscene gestures while waiting (2)
b) Swerve erratically into the next lane to make your point (1)
c) Wait patiently (1)
10. When you call for your jacket from the cleaners you find the shop has closed 10 minutes early what do you do?
a) get on with your planned evening and wear something else (3)
b) call the Head Office and let them know (2)
c) get frustrated and upset because your plans have been disrupted (1)
Score: 21-30 you are not a stress-head, you do not let the little niggles and imperfections of everyday life worry you one bit. Well –done.
11-20 you are not a stress head but you often let things get to you. Just remind yourself occasionally that life is not perfect and neither are people.
1-10 you are a stress-head – you need to concentrate on the bigger issues in life and accept that there will always be inequalities and unfairness in life. Do not compound the effects by getting stressed about them too.
Did you find this quiz useful? Would you like more of them? Let us know on the guest page.
How accurately do you think quizzes like this reflect reality? Start a new topic on the forum and lets see what people think!