Stress

I always have been a person who can handle stress well, it has even been said that I thrive on it, however lately I have had a lot of it, maybe too much if I'm honest.

People say to me, you are only young you don't know what stress is!

I beg to differ

I may not outwardly appear to be stressed but this is because what is in my heart is private and i will only share it with those who I want to share it with.

I have said before that people only see of me what I let them see and again this is true for this in that the more stress I am under the more outgoing upbeat and light hearted I appear when in truth I feel as though I am tied down by the neck with 20 Tonne boulders.

It makes me frustrated when it is all happening in one go like it is at the moment.

Right now I am:

• Off work because of injury
• Dealing with my sister's problems because she is useless and makes them worse
• Not able to cover the bills (not including the rent, petrol, gas, electric and food when I say bills - I guess they just won't get paid at all)
• My Husband's money has been cut
• My Husband not going to the doctor about his health
• Arguing with my Husband
• And one other I shall not discuss on here

Plus dealing with the usual of my Husband's disability.

Coping Mechanisms

I don't know if I have mentioned before but I have been through and come out the other side of depression. After my Over Dose I learnt to cope.

There are many methods I use to cope and I would like to share them with you, I can only hope it may help you one day too.

That leads me onto my first coping mechanism.

Helping Others
I always make time for others. I find that being away from the situation is one of the most helpful keys when coping with stress. I find when you are helping others you are not on your own you are part of a team.

Teamwork
Being in a team means you can have fun and enjoy whatever menial task you are completing by laughing and joking, messing around or just having a good old gossip and it can make you forget for a short time about your stresses and worries for a short time helping you to relax.

Relax
Everyone knows you think with your brain but people forget that the brain is also a muscle and it cannot work so effectively when tense, so relax however you do best be that down the pub, in a hot bath, or during mad passionate sex, relax however you find easiest and don't think about it the answer will come easier (even if it doesn't you have had some you time).

Talking
It is important to talk to someone about it, anybody will do. I find it is best to talk to someone who isn't involved in the situation, be it a family member, a friend, a confidante, or a counsellor. It's not necessarily that you are asking for advice but by putting it into words logically that can make you see the problem from a different perspective meaning you make a connection that you wouldn't otherwise make.

Optimism
Personally I was always a pessimist. I had the logic that if I expect the worst I can never be disappointed. This is true however the power of the mind is an incredible thing. It's the one thing I can't explain but in my experience if you think positive good things happen, as well as keeping your mood positive. I will admit this one takes a lot of practice especially when you feel everything is against you but keep at it, it is like any skill, it becomes easier with practice.

And the last one.......

Small mercies
Always be thankful of any small grace and/or mercy. Again it takes practice to be able to identify them as they come in so many forms I would crash all our computers if I tried to list them but I use rule of thumb that if it makes you smile or bake things a little easier even just for a few seconds that it is a small blessing. You'll be surprised how many you encounter in a day, and how many you create yourself. That first sip of a brew, the status on facebook that makes you laugh, the person who smiles at you round the shop.

                         The most important thing though is not only free but simple.

SMILE

:)