What is the best way to deal with stress?

Question

I am overly stressed out for an upcoming exam this month (the LSAT), and i am getting nervous by the minute, as days pass by. I don't know how to overcome it. If you can give me some pointers on how to deal with my anxiety, i would appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Look around
See if there really is something you can change or control in the situation
Set realistic goals for yourself
Reduce the number of events going on in your life and you may reduce the circuit overload
Exercise in stress reduction through project management/prioritizing
Remove yourself from the stressful situation
Give yourself a break if only for a few moments daily
Don't overwhelm yourself by fretting about your entire workload.
Handle each task as it comes, or selectively deal with matters in some priority
Don't sweat the small stuff
Try to prioritize a few truly important things and let the rest slide
Learn how to best relax yourself
Meditation and breathing exercises have been proven to be very effective in controlling stress.
Practice clearing your mind of disturbing thoughts.
Selectively change the way you react, but not too much at one time.
Focus on one troublesome thing and manage your reactions to it/him/her
Change the way you see things
Learn to recognize stress for what it is.
Increase your body's feedback and make stress self-regulating
Avoid extreme reactions;
Why hate when a little dislike will do?
Why generate anxiety when you can be nervous?
Why rage when anger will do the job?
Why be depressed when you can just be sad?
Do something for others to help get your mind off your self
Get enough sleep
Lack of rest just aggravates stress
Work off stress with physical activity, whether it's jogging, tennis, gardening
Avoid self-medication or escape
Alcohol and drugs can mask stress. They don't help deal with the problems
Develop a thick skin
The bottom line of stress management is "I upset myself"
Try to "use" stress
If you can't fight what's bothering you and you can't flee from it, flow with it and try to use it in a productive way

Try to be positive
Give yourself messages as to how well you can cope rather than how horrible everything is going to be. "Stress can actually help memory, provided it is short-term and not too severe. Stress causes more glucose to be delivered to the brain, which makes more energy available to neurons. This, in turn, enhances memory formation and retrieval. On the other hand, if stress is prolonged, it can impede the glucose delivery and disrupt memory.
Most importantly, if stress is putting you in an unmanageable state or interfering with your schoolwork, social and/or work life, seek professional help at your school counseling center.

Answer 2

Go ahead and stress, only make a certain time for it and no more. Schedule half and hour everyday at the same time to stress. Then put it down. If you have a Higher Power, you can give it to that. Meditation also helps, here is what I do: Simple meditation. This is a basic form of what I do. It's a mix of different types. It’s a powerful tool. First choose your mantra. This is a word of power, love, and life. I chose, "God", as I intend to be infused with, and maintain His spirit until next time. You can use any word, or short sentence meaningful to you. Another example of a good mantra is the word Love. I can't imagine using another mantra now, so take time with this. When you have it, get comfy. Use whatever position you fancy. Then deliberately go through every, single, tiny muscle in your entire body, (even the tiniest ones in your face), relaxing and filling each one with a protective, loving, healing white light from God. Do this while repeating your mantra silently. When you are completely relaxed and full of light, including your insides. Your body will be like it’s asleep, while your mind is wide awake. This can open you to spiritual contact. This is what makes the next action very important. Surround yourself with protective white light. I like to make all my white light sparkle & shimmer. Try not to think of anything except your mantra, and the sparkling white light. After this there are some variations you can try. Later. Sounds simple, but it’s not, it takes a great deal of commitment, determination, and concentration. Do this at the same time everyday. Doing this should make a big difference.
Blessed Be

Answer 3

GO OUT ON my back patio, have a smoke, and read a chapter or two of my latest favorite sci-fi / fantasy novels. Or wait until my wife and son go to bed, then sit up for a couple hours and play video games. The BEST way to deal with stress is to do something that you enjoy or relaxes you - no matter what it may be. And if someone bugs you while you are relaxing, tell them to go away, you are de-stressing, but if they persist, then you might need to find a new spot where no one will bother you for as long as it takes to get rid of the stress.

Answer 4

My advice would definitely be to go somewhere relaxing and calming where you can be relatively alone and listen to some good music. I usually find when i'm stressed out that music helps so much! I love to just sit and listen to my favorite songs- they really help me to let go and relax. Also, i think the more prepared for the exam you feel, then the more you can relax. SO just take it easy for a little while, because if you're still stressed and nervous by the time of the exam, it's not going to help you. So take a break, find some good music, and just chill for a while..Good luck! :)

Answer 5

Take a chill pill. You will fail if you don't relax a little. Go out and do things with yourself. I suggest exercise such as kick boxing, cycling or running. Try to slow your mind down from thinking to much and concentrate on retaining important information you need to get through the course. Best of luck.

Answer 6

Think about the stress the soldiers in Iraq feel everyday, or the soldiers that come home without limbs? Think about homeless people that have no place to go, or a single parent trying to get dental care for aching kids? Think about how silly it is for you to be stressed about the LSAT and how you know you will be ok. Stop thinking about "little ole me" and you will be just fine!

Answer 7

Pull up some practice LSAT tests from the computer and get an idea of what will be on the exam and how the questions are worded. It will help you out for the test, and it will kill time so you don't worry as much. Have some herbal tea.

Answer 8

When I am stressed I go for a ride in my car.
Mowing the grass releases stress, thought I am at it for 2 hours straight on a rider.
Sometimes swinging on a swing helps or going for a bicycle ride.

Answer 9

I don't know if this helps you or not but I went to my local health shop and they had this liquid spray for stress that you just spray under your toungue and it helps you relax and concentrate. I used it before exams and when I went for my driving licence and it really helped me so you should ask round at a few health stores.

Answer 10

Get some, 3 Stooges tapes, Good old Marx Brothers, Even Dumb and Dumber, just for the laughs, kick back and enjoy, you know what they say, Laughter is the best medicine.