How to beat stress!

Until recently I never believed the people that said stress can make you physically ill. I thought stress was something that 40-somethings got after a long day in the office, and consequently used it as an excuse to be foul to anybody that dared to cross their path. However, it turns out I was wrong (I know, a rare occurrence but it happens to the best of us). Half a million people in the UK experience work-related stress at a level they believe is making them ill and twelve million adults see their GPs with mental health problems EACH YEAR, much of them stress related. These statistics are worrying and with exam season having well and truly hit thousands of students like me, I thought I'd highlight just what the physical symptoms of a stress related illness can be and give some tips on how to beat it!

So what can you expect if stress and anxiety are starting to have a physical effect on you?
Well first of all your body will react to it in a number of ways including:

breathlessness
headaches
feeling sick or dizzy
fainting spells
chest pains
panic attacks
tendency to sweat
constant tiredness
restlessness
sleeping problems
constipation or diarrhoea
indigestion or heartburn
lack of appetite
sexual difficulties
nervous twitches
cramps or muscle spasms
pins and needles
high blood pressure

You may also experience feelings of:

aggressiveness
irritability
depression
feeling neglected
taking no interest in life
dreading the future

And your behaviour may experience changes such as:

difficulty making decisions
problems concentrating
inability to show true feelings
frequently crying

Now obviously nobody wants to suffer from even one of these symptoms, but the thing with stress and anxiety is that chances are you will suffer from the majority depending on how bad your situation is, and once you're suffering from it, you can become stressed about the fact that you're stressed, which leads to more stress! Now I've scoured the web and given some of my own tips from personal experience about how to handle stress so hopefully they may prove useful to a few of you :)

1. Spend time outside
It's ridiculous how much people seem to forget that it really can be as simple as getting some sunshine! Going for a walk, drinking your Costa outside rather than in or revising outside rather than in your bedroom with the blinds down can all help you feel much better. Lack of sunlight can, in extreme cases cause SAD, which is depression that occurs in the winter months as a result of little or no sun exposure, so what are you waiting for? Get outside!

2. Spend time doing what you love
Everybody has a passion, something that really fulfils them. For me it's writing. Whenever I feel down I'll do some creative writing or write a blog and I find that it always helps, purely because I get so absorbed in what I'm doing that my mind is distracted from whatever I'm worrying about, so whether it's playing music, painting pictures or playing some kind of sport, lose yourself in something that you enjoy doing and you'll reap the benefits.

3. Exercise and eat well
It may sound contrived but everybody says that pigging out on chocolate and ice cream helps when you feel down when in actual fact there's nothing worse you can do! If you want to boost your mood then drink gallons of water and eat plenty of fruit, veg and carbs for energy. And exercise! Up until about six months ago I'd never have been caught dead in a gym but since getting my membership I definitely don't regret it. As well as burning off the excess calories from that drinking binge last night, it gives you an endorphin rush that instantly puts you in a better mood and leaves you feeling fresh.

4. Vent to others
Without my mum and best mate Becky, I don't know where I'd be. Whether I have a genuine problem that I need them to advise me about, or am getting myself worked up over something stupid, there's nothing that helps more than someone helping you find solutions to your problems or saying "No, you're being crazy. But it's fine because I'm worse" before amusing you with stories of just how neurotic they can be and you bond over your shared psychotic tendencies.

5. Herbal teas
There are absolutely LOADS of herbal teas that are great for various ailments and you don't have to look far to find stress-busting teas that help relieve anxiety and sleep problems. It's really just a matter of personal taste so try experimenting with chamomile, ginseng, lavender, skullcap and linden to find something to suit you. Herbal teas not only taste great but they really do help, my mum swears by them and I dread to think what my insides would be like if it wasn't for my regular dose of green tea!

6. Pamper yourself
Often stress can stem from self-neglect. Caring about other people more than yourself and running yourself into the ground trying to please everybody else. To try and minimise you neglecting number one, try and save a little time every day to caring about yourself, whether it means coming home and having a candlelit bubble bath, cooking your favourite meal, watching your fave feel-good film over and over or going to bed in nothing but a splash of expensive perfume, make sure it feels good to YOU. Even just getting up that little bit earlier in the morning to apply your make up properly or style your hair can work wonders for your confidence, which in turn reduces stress levels as you can walk into work with your head held high and enjoy the respect you deserve.

7. Find your spiritual path
Since becoming a Christian I can honestly say the quality of my life and my mindset has improved a million times over and it's 100% due to my God and the faith I have in him. Whether you find yourself drawn to a mainstream religion or New Age crystal gazing, find something that gives you comfort enough to believe in without doubt and you'll find the stresses slipping away. Trusting that a higher power will look after you and never let things get too bad is a difficult thing to do but if you can do it it works wonders for you as you can stop worrying about "what if's" and start living in the present.

8. Let your hair down!
The past few weeks have been an absolute nightmare for me, and without my friends insisting that I go out with them a couple of nights a week I dread to think what state I'd be in. It sounds silly but being surrounded by people in an environment that is too loud and crowded to think about anything does help as long as you don't overdo it and nothing relieves stress quicker than a drink and a dance with the people you love the most. It's complete escapism.

9. Laugh
It's strange but true: laughing actually improves your mood. Not only this but it also boosts the immune system and energy and diminishes pain. It also improves blood flow which can protect against heart attacks and relieves physical tension brought on by stress, so stick some stand up comedy on because it really is good for your health!

10. Be thankful for what you have
If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world. If you have money in the bank, your wallet and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. Here in Britain we are so lucky to live the lives we lead but we waste them complaining about things that don't matter. We complain that our iPhone is not the latest model or that we can't afford three nights out in a week, or that we got one mark off an A in exams that most people aren't even blessed enough to sit. Next time you're worrying about something minor, actually take a few minutes to count your blessings. Whether you're happy with your social life, the direction your career is taking, your possessions or family, whatever it is make sure you are grateful for it.

11. Don't be ashamed of asking for help
Sometimes online tips like this just aren't enough and anxiety can build up and make you really quite ill. Fortunately, the stigma associated with mental illness is second to none in today's society and the mental health system is advancing with the development of CBT and other practical therapies that have been proven to be more effective than past therapies such as psychoanalysis and behavioural therapy. A full course of CBT is usually about 12 weeks long and it takes your personal view of things into account while giving you practical tips for dealing with depression and anxiety in day to day life.