Stress is a normal part of life, we will all go through periods when we are more stressed, when life is busier or the pressure on someone is greater and then hopefully periods of low stress. However prolonged periods of stress can have a great effect on many systems of your body and affect your health and quality of life. 

It is important to acknowledge when you are stressed and try to find some ways to manage and minimise it. 

Some things you can do to help manage stress include taking care of yourself, this involves eating a healthy and well balanced diet, completing regular exercises, having a regular sleep routine which involves enough hours of sleep. It is also important to find activities that you like doing and get involved in them, that might be sports, crafts, reading or other hobbies. It is also important to seek support and maintain friendships and family relationships. 

Try to focus on things you know will cause increased stress and see if there are ways to manage it, but only focus on things you can control and change and prioritise what you need to do. 

Seek support from others, share that you are feeling stressed and see if there are ways that others can help you, it is also good to consider getting professional help. 

Here are some simple resources which you may find helpful in managing your stress

This way up – free coping with stress course-

https://thiswayup.org.au/how-we-can-help/courses/coping-with-stress/

This ways up’s up article on 12 free apps to help manage stress and chose the app which best suits you

https://thiswayup.org.au/12-free-apps-to-help-you-beat-stress/

Reachout breathe app – iphone app which encourages you to focus on your breathing and slowing your heart rate

https://au.reachout.com/tools-and-apps/reachout-breathe

Smiling minds app

 Headspace - https://www.headspace.com/

-- 

Dr Mariella Berry (Osteopath)

BSC (Osteopathy), MHSc (Osteopathy)