We all get stressed out every now and again. Whether it is a project at work, a major impending decision, or just having problems making ends meet, like in 2008 is an exercise in control and self-medication. Because of this, we are going to look at some common coping mechanisms and evaluate their effectiveness to help you be the calmest you can be.

Alcohol

While a common salve to life’s wounds, it is not an effective one. Alcohol is a chemical depressant that puts both your mood and your body in danger. Also, alcohol is an expensive medication when compared to some natural alternatives. Preserve your liver, keep your consciousness, and save some dollars in your pocket all by giving up alcohol.

OTC Medications

Sleeping pills, pain killers, cold medicine, many people decide that these should be used to save their mental state. In fact, I have meet students who drink Nyquil straight from the bottom to relax after a stressful exam.  This is obviously a health risk, incorrect dosage and abuse can prove fatal, but it is also an ineffective way to cope. As soon as your medication-induced buzz wears off you are left stuck in the same place as you were before.

Violence

You’re tightly wound, your partner is tightly wound, and you have access to handguns. This is the story behind many handgun heartbreaks, and can prove fatal quickly. It takes surprisingly little effort to escalate fisticuffs to life-threatening situation. Violence should never be the answer to stress, productive means never come from it.

Exercise

One of the few coping methods that we do endorse is exercise. Exercise triggers the release of feel good hormones like dopamine that can relieve stress and refresh your body. Be sure not to overindulge in exercise though, if your exercise to the point of illness, it will not be very helpful.

People

This is our final coping option because of its effective nature. By communicating with another person, you lose some of the pressure that is aimed as you and at the same time get the opportunity to build your relationship with another person. This is one of the best ways to cope with stress.

I hope that these tips help you in your endeavors to conquer stress. Please contact us or subscribe to our RSS feed for more information