STRESS BUSTER TOOLKIT

If you are concerned that you may be pushing yourself beyond what you can reasonably cope with, there are things that you can do to regain control in your life. Start by looking at where the pressure in your life is coming from and make a list.

This is not always an easy exercise to contemplate.  It may involve us in making necessary changes or doing things differently. The possibility of having to change habits of a lifetime can be a daunting prospect!  Keeping busy is often the technique that is used to avoid dealing with difficult issues.  Whilst avoidance may give some temporary relief it is not likely to be helpful in the longer term.

Having identified and written down a list of all the things that are causing you stress look again at your list.  Some, though not all, will be situations that are within your control.

Highlight the areas which you think can realistically be changed by you.  Brainstorm ideas for solutions.  Use other people such as family, friends and colleagues to help.

If you don’t know where to begin on your list choose to tackle something small and achievable to begin with.  Dealing successfully with just one source of stress at a time can provide the incentive we need to address other areas of pressure in our lives.

You may find it helps to talk your situation through with someone outside of the immediate situation.  Using the County Council Employee Welfare Service creates the opportunity to do this.  The service is strictly confidential and open to all employees, free of charge.

After making a list of things that are causing you stress, make another list of the ways in which you have dealt with your stress to date.  This list will include the many ordinary, everyday methods that you use.

Delete those methods that are negative or cause damage for example getting drunk, comfort eating or ‘kicking the cat!’

When you begin to look at ways to improve things in each of the areas that you have identified you should utilise all of your positive ways and also aim to add a few more to your list of coping strategies.  

You can do this by practising and using any of the following that could usefully apply to you.