How to Deal With Stress

The modern Irish woman (or the MIW, if you will) is a busy woman. She has a lot of stuff on her plate and, god bless her, she juggles it with a steely determination, the likes of which have never been seen before.

Just look at yourself. Think of all the things you deal with on a daily basis. You have the demands of your job, the demands of your relationship and the demands of your family to worry about. You have to juggle work events, friendships and various other duties. And most of all? Well you also have to try and find some time to yourself.

It’s completely understandable then, that sometimes the MIW finds herself getting overwhelmed.

Having so many things that constantly need your attention is a major drag. If you’re not careful you could find yourself getting burned out very quickly.

In fact, did you know that almost 90 per cent of Irish people suffer from stress on a daily basis? And did you know that MIWs like yourself are four times more likely than men to suffer from stress-related mental health disorders?

You see stress is one of those sneaky illnesses (and yes, it is considered an illness). It starts off small and it continues to build at such a slow pace, that we barely notice how bad it’s gotten until someone tells us we should go home and relax for the sake of our health.

Stress and stress-related illnesses have become such a problem in Ireland over the past few years that dedicated Stress Clinics are starting to spring up all around the country – the main Stress Clinic for Dublin is located in St John of God’s Hospital.

Simply put, stress occurs when we are unable to cope with the demands that are being put upon us (by ourselves or by others). It affects everyone in different ways, but the most common symptom is the feeling of being overwhelmed or ‘strained’ by these demands on your life.

Other tell-tale signs of stress include: headaches, lack of sleep, lack of appetite, unhappiness, tiredness, inability to concentrate, anxiety, worry and moodiness.

But it doesn’t stop there. If left untreated, stress can go on to cause some serious physical symptoms as well. Some examples? Stress can make your body ache and it can cause intense pain. It can completely mess up your digestive system – diarrhoea or constipation are common signs. As are nausea and dizziness.

Prolonged stress can have a damaging effect on your heart and can cause your heart to beat faster. It also completely destroys your immune system, so you could find yourself picking up every single bug that’s going around.

Ladies, we know you do a lot and that you spend 99.9 per cent of your time running around like a (fabulously dressed) headless chicken. Therefore, it is essential for you to look after yourself.

Here are some ideas to help you keep stress at bay…

Make Time For Yourself: Allow yourself the luxury of an hour of alone time every single day. Use this hour to wind down and do something that relaxes you. Maybe read a book, watch some mindless TV or have a bath. Just relax.

Exercise: Nothing beats stress faster than exercise. If you start feeling overwhelmed, stop what you’re doing and go for a walk or hit the gym.

Exercise is also a major mood booster, so chances are you’ll feel like you’re better able to cope with the initial problem or issue after your workout.

Say No: If you already have too much on your plate, simply say no to the next person who asks you to do something for them. You’re juggling enough. It is perfectly acceptable to say no. Don’t feel guilty about it.

Breathe Deeply: The next time you feel yourself getting worked up over something, take a step back and take ten deep breaths. The extra oxygen will kick-start your brain and you’ll feel better overall.

Ask for Help: Just like there’s no shame in saying no, there’s also no shame in asking for help when you’re really struggling. You’re not superwoman (and to be honest? We reckon even superwoman asks for help when she needs it). Ask your partner or your friends if they would mind giving you a hand.

Girls, you work so hard looking after others, now it’s time for you to take care of yourself.