Do you find it difficult to make decisions? Do you feel
generally unsettled and sometimes downright irritable? When you
stop and think about it are you aware of an underlying sense of
anxiety or worry that permeates every aspect of your life?

If you’re nodding your head to all or most of these questions
chances are that you are suffering from chronic stress.

Although the word stress is frequently heard it’s far reaching
long term damage is little appreciated. Allowing it to continue
builds invisible barriers in your life and limits your ability
to simply enjoy life and your capacity to express emotions and
appreciate opportunities. If a sense of stress becomes the norm
rather than the exception you run the risk of inflicting serious
damage to your health and limits to your future happiness.

Think about it – imagine how different your life would be if
you just went ahead with decisions and once you made those
decisions they didn’t come back to haunt you. Imagine how much
more energy you’d have to enjoy activities that you put off
now, because you ‘don’t feel up to it,’ or you ‘just have to
get some extra work done.’

Don’t worry if you feel all of the above is pertinent – you are
not alone. Stress and anxiety are commonplace in competitive
environments and most workplaces. Unfortunately nowadays we are
bought up to believe that you must be seen to succeed at
everything and that you must be able to buy all the latest
products and gizmos to add short-term enjoyment to your life.

With this kind of everyday pressure to face it’s not by
accident that such conditions as IBS, chronic backache,
depression, psoriasis and migraine are on the increase in our
hi-speed, consumer oriented society. Understandably when we
fall pray to these conditions we seek our doctor’s advice, who
will invariably prescribe a drug regime. This traps you in a
syndrome of dependency on drugs and feelings of failure because
you are unable to cope with life like everyone else seems to.

What Can You Do to Avoid the Stress Trap?
The simple answer is to learn the art of living consciously and
being self-aware in the right way. Instead of constantly going
over thoughts in your head that point out your mistakes and
what everyone else is thinking, ask yourself some useful
questions.

You could start by posing the question: ‘How am I contributing
to my feelings of stress?‘ This could lead you to examine what
exactly you’re saying to yourself in your head and noticing
whether it’s of value or helpful.

Then perhaps check whether you’re tensing up your body
anywhere. You may suddenly be aware that every time you talk to
a certain person you are unconsciously tensing up your neck and
shoulders.

Now check whether you’re habitually imagining things going
wrong, or rehearsing arguments to have or how to defend
yourself.

Changing your thinking in this way may seem subtle but it has
far reaching effects. Firstly it puts you back in control and
makes you concentrate on the here and now instead of racing off
into your own make-believe land of disaster.

Other key steps to the road of recovery and life enhancement
are:

Acknowledge your current feelings – being aware is the first
step to recovery.

Get help – seeking support is not a sign of weakness but a step
of growth. Talking with a therapist, friends or family about
your concerns and frustrations relieves emotional tension and
brings a sense of relief – you’re not alone.

Learn how to relax – we so often feel that lying inert in front
of the TV of an evening is relaxing. It isn’t. Your mind and
body need the benefits of regular relaxation techniques such as
deep breathing, calm moments of mental space, regular exercise.
The resulting energy and clear head thinking you’ll experience
will convince you of their worth.

Doing any or all of these exercises will help you regain
control and start to create the life you were meant to have.
Why wait any longer?


About The Author: Liz Labrum, Master Practitioner in neuro
linguistic programming (NLP) and Advanced Hypnotherapist, works
with clients who are stuck with issues such as stress, anxiety,
fears, phobias, lack of confidence and IBS. She believes in
guiding her clients to the solution that's right for them so
they live the life they were meant to.
http://www.lizlabrum.co.uk