How can I stop myself getting so stressed??

Question

I get really stressed over everything from losing my phone to starting a new job! How can I calm down it's driving my flatmate mad???

Answer 1

Seems to me that you maybe have a kneejerk reaction when something goes wrong or when you think it will go wrong. Maybe you need to separate out in your mind what is important to worry about and what is not.

You don't say what you do when you feel stressed out but maybe you are venting out loud if your flatmate is getting angry.

Why not try this. It is another way of "counting to ten".:
When something is upsetting you, take a little "time out" by yourself. Take a pad and paper and write down what is bothering you and then try to brainstorm and write down some possible solutions; For example, if you have lost your phone, write down all of the possible places you might have left it. The act of sitting quietly and writing things down will serve to give you time to breathe and to try to come up with some positive strategies for combatting the stress.
In the example you give about starting a new job: write down all of the things you can do to make the job a success: from preparing your clothing you are going to wear, to the materials you are going to use, to how you are going to get to the new job. Try to learn as much as you can about the new job so that you feel confident and are not anticipating the worse.
Self-talk: Say to yourself..."what is the very worse thing that can happen?" and then decide if it is really as bad as you imagine. Perhaps you havent ever had to sit down and resolve your own problems before. Life is filled with obstacles and hurdles to overcome and you will succeed if you work to develop some problem resolution skills. Good luck. Only go to your flatmate for advice or assistance when you feel calm and ready to approach the problem with a clear head.

I

Answer 2

Sounds like you need relaxation therapy. Find you some YOU time, a quiet place with soft music and candles and breathe slowly, deeply and find the calm inside you. It would help if you would do this everyday at a similar time, making sure that it is at a time you won't be disturbed. Unplug and turn off the phones if necessary. Also make sure you are eating right, getting plenty of sleep, slowing down or stopping caffeine intake, and getting enough exercise. If you smoke, slow down or quit. If you feel you can't do this on your own join a relaxation or yoga class. And if all else fails, sit down and do a self-assessment; list the things you stress over and evaluate how you can decrease/eliminate their power over you.

Answer 3

Ultimately you'll need to change your outlook on life.

You must understand and accept that getting stressed over something won't help in anyway to solve whatever problem you might have. Stressing over problems and things that never even happened is even more of a waste of your time and will affect your sanity.

Take deep breaths and don't rush into things. Try to imagine every single possibility and scenario in your mind but do so calmly. Rationalise the situation that's causing you stress. Believe in yourself. Remember tomorrow is another day.

Walk slowly. Listen to your heart. And by that I mean when you start feeling your heart pounding faster and faster give it some time to slow down.

Hug a loved one. Go out for a coffee and read a newspaper.

Instead of being afraid and nervous about things embrace them as try to learn from those experiences.

Smile and wave to people on the bus.

Answer 4

I can definately relate and at the moment am struggling to come up with answers for this. I would advise the following:-
1. Don't turn to drink or substance abuse as it only compounds your stress/problems.
2. Make a list of things you really enjoy doing i.e. dancing/writing/walking/gym And when you have an "episode" as I like to call it, do one of these things or a few of them which should help to channel the stress
3. Don't bottle it all up as stress kept inside leads to depression. Perhaps call a friend (who you don't offload on regularly) and talk about it. Talking is a definite means of getting over stuff and helps for venting purpose.
4. Put things into perspective. Always remember (and this is hard at times) that there IS ALWAYS someone out there going through worse times than you. When adverts on TV come on re: charities/cancer/AIDS I always feel abit bad for groaning about silly stuff when others are worse off than me.
5. When angry/stressed divert your attention for a while by making a list of either people you love or who love you/ good memories/experiences or things you have to be thankful for!

Hope this helps! ;-D

Answer 5

People will give you lot's of reasons, and things to do like relax, try and be happy etc., but the real truth, some of us stress out faster, and btter to let it out than to hold it in, most people who get stressed out over things like losing you phone or job or have an accident, are actually peole who care more about things, who want control in their lives, who work harder at things because they care, now with that said if your always going off the deep end then you need some help with your problem.

Answer 6

Force yourself to take 30 time out everyday. Switch off the TV, radio, and phone. This is difficult if you have kids and a family, but try to find time. Just sit alone for 30 minutes, maybe write down your feelings, or just lie down a breath slowly. Sounds silly, but this type of escape from the world really does wonders.

Answer 7

You've probably heard it a million times before, but just take a few minutes (preferably where you're alone) and just take a few deep breaths. I always used to think it was a silly idea, but it helped me when I kept getting stressed! Good luck xx

Answer 8

hi
litttle b just said it... yoga ,
all forms of excerise relive the problems of stress
the human body can cope with exercise ...it helps us to function normally,not just to look good...try running,swiming, kickboxing,skipping,riding a bike, tennis,weight training.... etc

what ever you do.. take your time , also grab ten mins a day, alone and just close your eyes and relax give your flatmate a break:)
good luck

Answer 9

Stop hurrying things. Sometimes we think( i stressed too at times.) that if we hurry then a lot of things get done but by doing so we're only wearing off ourselves and our relationships.

Answer 10

Yoga is a good way of keeping stress at bay...as are all forms of exercise...While it may be annoying for your flat mate I think its better to let your frustrations out than bottle up your feelings...