Successfully coping with stress

Learning to manage our stress well can improve many aspects of our lives. For example, stress management can give us:

• Increased ability to deal with problems
• Increased productivity
• Stronger relationships
• Increased energy
• Improved health
• Higher self-esteem

Success over stress

These tools and skills will help us to get better at dealing with stress, but there is no such thing as a stress-free life. Part of life is dealing with stress. When you are really stressed out, here are a few more things to think about:

• YOU ARE HERE: accept where you are and go from there
• DON'T TRY TO PLEASE EVERYONE: leave something for yourself
• STRESS CAN BE AN ENGERGIZER: harness that energy and focus on a task
• BE ACTIVE: Look for ways you can start to make some plans, or set some goals for yourself
• LAUGH: Look for opportunities to laugh - laughter is great therapy
• TAKE CHARGE: of yourself; you can't control other people's actions
• RELAX: create quiet time, meditate, listen to music
• GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK: pause and do something for you
• YOU ARE NOT ALONE: talk to someone you trust or talk 2 us at the Crisis Centre.