Once a person has identified a stressful situation, they can start thinking about strategies that will make it less problematic. Sometimes, the solution may be very easy but other times it is not. When one can't avoid a stressful situation, they need to try brainstorming ways in order to reduce the thing that is irritating them. A person should not feel like they have to figure it out all on their own. It is alright to seek help and support from ones family and friends if need be. Stress will not disappear from a person's life which is why stress management isn't an overnight cure. It often takes time and practice in order to learn how to reduce stress levels and increase one's ability to cope with life's challenges (Stress Basics, 2010).

Stress is what one feels when they have to handle more than what they are used to. When a person is stressed, your body responds as though you are in danger. It creates hormones that speed up the heart, make a person breathe faster, and give them a burst of energy. This is called the fight-or-flight stress response. Some stress is normal and even useful. Stress can help a person if they need to work hard or react quickly. But if stress occurs too often or lasts too long, it can have negative effects. It has been connected to headaches, an upset stomach, back pain, and trouble sleeping. It can weaken a person's immune system, making it harder to fight off disease. If one already has a health problem, stress may make it worse. It can also make a person moody, tense, or depressed. Relationships may suffer, and performance at work or school may fall (Stress Management - Topic Overview, 2010).

Stress is a fact of life for most people. One may not be able to get rid of stress, but they can look for ways to lower it. There are numerous things that a person can do to try and lower their stress. Some of these ideas include:

Learn better ways to manage their time. One may get more done with less stress if to make a schedule. People need to think about which things are most important, and do those first.

Find better ways to cope. One needs to look at how they have been dealing with stress. They need to be honest about what works and what...

When one finds that they start to worry they need to try and stop these thoughts. Working on letting go of things that one cannot change is very helpful as well is learning to say no.
Speaking up when things get out of control is helpful as well. Not being able to talk about ones needs and concerns creates stress and can make negative feelings even worse. Assertive communication can help a person to express how they feel in a thoughtful and tactful way.

Asking for help is a good idea too. People who have a sturdy network of family and friends seem manage stress better (Stress Management - Topic Overview, 2010).

What is stressful for one person may not be stressful for another. And dealing with what is stressful is different from person to person as well. There are many techniques that at person can use to help manage their stress, once they can identify what their stress is. The key to stress management is to first determine what things are contributing to the stress that one feels and then devising a change plan in order to get these things under control.