1. STRESSED?

Symptoms include irritability, indecision, humour loss, exhaustion, insomnia, early morning waking, tearfullness, suppressed anger, rage, overcontrol, depression, anxiety, inability to concentrate or finish tasks, low self esteem, low sex drive, mania, obsession, poor appetite or comfort eating, indigestion, headaches, , sweating, rapid heart beat, high blood pressure, nail biting, twitches & TATT (tired all the time).

2. WHY?

Our nervous systems are built to respond instantly to stress with burst of hormones to enable fight or flight . If this response is repeatedly triggered by either ongoing or unpredictable stresses which we feel we cannot control our hormonal & nervous systems become exhausted.

3. WHAT TO DO?

Losing control of your life? Just say no! Don’t manage the mess solve the problem. Try lists – do the important things not the urgent & soon there will be fewer urgent. Overcontrolled? Instead try ‘If its not broke don’t fix it.’ Either way worry less. 99% of the things we worry about don’t happen.

4. IT’S SAFE TO CHANGE

Learn to walk away from stressors & change your habitual responses for new more beneficial ones. Deadlines? – take control & set your own. Work shorter hours & focus on working smarter not harder. Make time for active rest eg massage, walking, yoga, gardening, cooking, holidays, new hobbies & sex!

5. CHAOS

Our society expects to control & predict everything. Instead accept the chaotic nature of life - there will always be cancer & car crashes.

6. DOCTOR

Visit him. Ask for time off & medication if needed, also if you feel stressed out you could be ill eg high blood pressure, thyroid or diabetes.

7. FITNESS

Make time for fitness now or you will have to make time for illness later. There are plenty of indispensible people in the graveyards! If stressed, non-competitive sport is best.

8. DRUGS

If stressed avoid or reduce intake of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol & other drugs. All are better tolerated & enjoyed more when less stressed. Caffeine is particularly bad for anxiety.

9. ANGER

Suppressed anger is bad for the body & letting it out can be bad for others. Channel it to motivate you & don't let it build – exercise to defuse it.

10. HAPPINESS

And finally happiness. The ability to be happy is due to both genes & learned behaviour. Stress isn’t what happens to us – its how we react to it. Neither material wealth nor the perfect relationship will bring happiness if you are not happy in yourself. Life is about being not having.