|
HOLIDAYS can't come quick enough, can they? The Gold Coast Bulletin, March 30, 2002, Saturday The in-box is mounting and you are struggling to fit the rest of your life around work. But what can you do about it? Daniela Guidara, director of Monash University's Centre for Stress Management and Research, says the first step is identifying your problem - stress. "It's certainly not a figment of our imaginations," she said. "It's the response of the body to any demands placed upon it, positive or negative. "If you have got too many things on the go, then sooner or later the body will begin to exhaust and then the mind will begin to exhaust." Although symptoms vary from person to person, stress can manifest itself in an accelerated heart rate, shallow breathing, muscle tension, excessive sweating and skin rashes. Sleeping problems, irritability and reduced tolerance levels are other indicators of overload. Ms Guidara said it was important to recognise your own symptoms of stress. "Many people don't realise they are really stressed until it's too late. Learn to track your stress symptoms over time." Once they are identified, Ms Guidara advises against embarking on a major life overhaul. "The best thing you can do is to stop and analyse what's going on in your life," she said. "Sometimes it's important not to make too many big changes because that in itself is stressful. "Don't make any knee-jerk reactions, because change is a stress." Ms Guidara said physical exercise and breathing exercises were the best way of combating stress. She said a GP or a psychologist could also help people to reduce stress levels by advising them on relaxation techniques. If untreated, stress could lead to physical and psychological problems, said Ms Guidara.
close
window
Copyright © 2002 Macquarie Institute, Australia
|