know your stressors, know your self
To better cope with your stress, it is helpful to develop self-awareness. Try these steps:
- Recognize that you are distressed. To relieve the tensions that may be stripping you of your health and satisfaction with life, you must first recognize that you are distressed. But sometimes this is not readily evident. The onset of stress-related problems may be gradual, and it frequently distorts one's thinking. You may not notice the subtle, but significant, changes that are occurring in your mood and health.
- Know your symptoms. Write down your primary symptoms of distress. Do you get a cold, have trouble sleeping, or become distracted and forgetful? Paying attention to signs such as these can help "short-circuit" the distress before its effects become severe.
- Know your stressors. Make a list of your stressors—both large and small. Don't forget the cumulative effect of life's little hassles. Sometimes just knowing what's upsetting you can alleviate some of the strain. It also helps you to develop a stress management plan that is targeted to your unique stressors.
- Put your stressors in perspective. Can your stressors be put into groups? Do most of them happen at home or at work? Who else tends to be included in these situations? Do you feel like you have control over any of these situations? Do any solutions immediately occur to you? Answers to these questions may help you put your stressors in perspective and cue you to the stress management plan that will be most valuable to you.
