How should I deal with Stress?

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Stress is a force or pressure on our minds and body usually caused by life's difficulties. The causes of stress are multi-factoral. For some, it is work related. Having to meet strict deadlines, this may lead to having to work late into the night for many days. Other causes could be family relationship resulting from dealing with stubborn children, couples misunderstanding, relationship with neighbours and other family members. Another major cause of stress is the inability of someone to pay a lingering debt or settle mortgage.

Unemployment too is a serious reason why a lot of people stress. Imagine sending your child to school through various stage from primary through the university with the expectation that you soon would be free from the burden of having to fend for them, yet they find it difficult to get a job or at least a good paying job. That's stress on Its own. It's worse off if you had to pay your fees through school by yourself.

Other causes of stress are increased crime rate in the society. It's become normal to not expect people to do good to others for fear of being attacked in the process. People have become cold towards helping others, like stranded strangers in the street often times because some in the past turned out to be criminals. Traffic jam is another big stress related factor. In Nigeria for instance, the situation is so acute in some parts like Lagos state. The time people ought to have spent resting after a very tiring day at work or businesses, they spend it on the road as a result of hold up. This has often time resulted in anger and impatience among drivers and passengers who lash out abuses on each other.

For most men, their cause of stress is lack of money. When there's need and there's no money to meet that need. Bills to pay, children school fees, family upkeep and much more. It affects a man's ego as he gets infuriated over petty things. Family gathering becomes like a funeral because he has so much weighing him down. No fun time with kids and wife. It's even worse off if he has a wife who doesn't understanding or supports but keep comparing him with other men his mates who are doing better.

The problems that results from stress are as numerous as the causes of stress in itself. Stress related Challenges have caused a lot of health problems for many. Other problems resulting to stress are insomnia and appetite loss. Some persons have developed sleeping disorders as a result of stress. They either do not sleep at all at night or wake up suddenly after short minutes to few hours. They toss here and there on the bed but find it hard to return to sleep. It's easy to see these kind of people looking like day time zombies. Baggy eyes, numerous lines across the fore head and lot more. Some others lose their appetite when they are stressed. I think I fall into this category. Food becomes unappealing even when you're hungry, you don't even see the need to eat when there are matters bothering your mind.

Stress cannot be controlled as people stress everyday over little things but it can be managed. No matter how bad the situation might be, it can be handled. I'll show you how below.

1. Identify the root cause of your stress. Discovering the cause of your stress is the first step towards Its management. Find out what is stressing you, giving you a cause for concern or worry. Haven identified the problem, you can then take the correct measures to tackle that problem. If your stress is conflict related, talk to the people involved and resolve the conflict so you can have your peace of mind. Make peace with your neighbours. Don't bottle the problem inside. Talk to someone about it. Maybe your stress is from your spouse because you're not providing enough for the family. Let them know how you feel about their reaction towards this problem and tell them to give you the time it would require to get back to balance so you'd be a better breadwinner. If the situation is beyond you, involve someone else who can help you talk to whom it may concern so you don't lose your sanity.

2. Set yourself free. Yes, you have to be creative and innovative. It's a shame that our university these days instead of focussing on training students and producing graduates who would be job givers have done the opposite. Most graduates are after white collar jobs because of the mentality that their certificate entitles them to a job. Graduates leave school hoping to get government Jobs meanwhile the government is not working towards new establishment that would create an avenue for these people.

As a youth, when you kill the job seeking mentality, you must have dealt with stress that comes from this end. Don't become dependent on government or anyone. Some had Uncles who In the past promised would offer assistance to them in this regards but when the time came, they disappointed. Help yourself. While studying, also acquire a skill. Obtain soft loans and grants to help you establish yourself. I know a lot of persons in Nigeria who are living big not on their certificate as graduates but on the skill they acquired. You can do same for yourself no matter how little it seems. There's always a beginning. Even though you may be walking slowly, don't stand still.

3. Get some food and rest. Stress can affect your body's natural defense system but eating the right food and taking proper rest can help with some relief. This is not the time to start feeding on just anything. There are foods that help reduce stress. Some of them are turmeric, salmon, eggs, meat and diary products, citrus, banana, green tea and yoghurt. Take balanced meals. Cold shower too can help ease stress. More importantly, take your time to sleep. Sleep has a way of healing us and getting us refreshed thus helping our minds to function at its best. Stress is not managed with drugs but symptomally. If you need to see a psychologist, please do. Diamphramatic (repeated breathing in and out) exercises too helps let out stress. Everyone in life has some problems that weighs them down but to different degrees. Control your problem. Don't let it drown you. Don't bottle up stress or it will begin to kill you slowly.