If you feel that you are suffering from stress, try to identify the source or aspects of your life that are causing it. Sometimes you may not be able to change or avoid them, but at other times simple lifestyle changes can relieve your stress. There are several proven strategies that can help you deal with stress: delegate or share your responsibilities at work take a dietary supplement avoid confrontation with difficult colleagues learn to be more assertive start a relaxation program exercise regularly do not use drugs or alcohol to cope practice eating a healthy, balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables find humor or absurdity in stressful situations yoga never take on more than you know you can cope with organize your time better to get as much done as possible talk to friends or family, and sharing your thoughts and fears listen to music or relaxation tapes tensing and then relaxing your muscles, starting at the toes and working up to the head and neck.

Other treatments

There are many stress management techniques in the form of counseling, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy. Complementary approaches include aromatherapy and reflexology and these may, if nothing else, provide a quiet, relaxed environment in which to wind down. Meditation can help relaxation, and practicing yoga or the Alexander technique may help to relieve muscle pains and help to control breathing in stressful situations.

Use of structured relaxation and meditation techniques to help control stress and improve ones physical and mental well-being is one of many ways to treat stress. While some types of meditation and relaxation therapies are best learned in a class, it’s also possible to learn meditative techniques on your own. Physical relaxation and meditation is one of the most popular techniques to achieve physical and mental relaxation. Progressive Muscle Relaxation is a method developed in the 1930s in which muscle groups are tightened and then relaxed in succession. This method is based upon the idea that mental relaxation will be a natural outcome of physical relaxation. Progressive muscle relaxation is generally practiced for 10-20 minutes a day.

Another technique is Yoga.  This is an ancient Indian form of exercise based upon the premise that the body and breathing are connected with the mind. One goal of yoga is to restore balance and harmony to the body and emotions through numerous postural and breathing exercises.
People with strong social support systems experience fewer physical and emotional symptoms of stress than their less-connected counterparts. Loved ones, friends, business associates, neighbors, and even pets are all part of our social networks. Cultivating and developing a social support network is healthy for both body and mind.

Organizational skills which are constituted by the physical surroundings like office, desk, kitchen, closet, car etc are well-organized, the individual won’t be faced with the stress of misplaced objects and clutter. Make it a habit to periodically clean out and sort through the messes of paperwork and clutter that accumulate over time.

If an individual feels that stress can’t be managed on their own or faced with unbearable stress, remember that there are resources to help. Check in with a doctor. Stress can take its toll on the body, increasing the susceptibility to infections and worsening the symptoms of practically any chronic condition. Stress alone can also be a cause of numerous physical symptoms. Your physician will be able to assess the effects that stress.