Responding to stress

 

Tracy Turner
We all feel stressed at various times in our lives. It's a normal response to challenging circumstances, and can be caused by happy as well as sad events. A new partner or a holiday can trigger stress just as much as the death of a loved one or a job loss.
Coping with stress
One of the first steps to cope with stress is learning to recognise your personal signs and symptoms. The way you function on a daily basis may change, or you may notice a difference in your body (such as tense shoulders), thinking, or general sense of wellbeing. Is the cause for your stress a real threat? Or is something causing needless worry in your life?
Stress is part of life but we don't need to compound our problems by putting ourselves down and thinking irrational thoughts such as "nobody gets stressed out like I do". We're not weak or neurotic because we're stressed - we're stressed because we're human. Blaming ourselves or doling out negative thoughts as selfimposed punishment is a waste of energy.
Disponível em: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/coping_stress.shtml>. Acesso em: 29 ago. 2008.

Segundo a autora, para melhor lidar com estresse, a pessoa deve: