Keep A Journal Of Your Stress

Keeping a journal to plan your Stress Management Handling stress is a vital skill in modern living. It is important to remember that a certain amount of stress in our lives is actually essential to be sufficiently stimulated in order to meet the challenges of everyday life.

The negative aspects of stress are what occur when anxiety or fear become a constant. Sometimes it is clear where stress is coming from, for instance if you are undergoing a major life change. At other times it may not be so clear as to why you feel stressed. Emotions are a key element to stress.

Many find it helpful to use expressive techniques to manage stress effectively. Journal keeping, or journaling is a term or phrase for the practice of keeping a record in a diary or journal that explores the thoughts and feelings surrounding the events of ones life.

By writing down your thoughts and feelings you are better able to clarify them and is often helpful for problem solving. Sometimes just externalizing an event or feeling can take away the pressure or make it not seem as threatening. Just writing about what stresses you provides some relief and building awareness is key to reducing and managing your stress response now and in the future.

As compared to other stress relieving techniques or practices journal keeping is free, or practically cost free considering all you need is a pen or pencil and paper or a computer. It requires no special skills or physical ability so those who are disabled or cannot participate in physical activities can do it.

All you need is a few minutes of privacy and something to write on. The health benefits of journal keeping have been scientifically proven through study and research. Along with helping to balance the negative effects of stress.

It has been shown that journal keeping decreases symptoms of asthma, arthritis and some other health conditions, improves cognitive functioning, and strengthens the immune system. Releasing emotion by writing in a journal is particularly helpful to those who find it difficult to verbalize their feelings.

Having the freedom to express negative feelings such as anger, fear, sadness, jealousy, and hatred in a non-threatening way can be therapeutic.   

Today's Stress Cure Fact Bipolar Stress There are some common early warning signs, which if one recognizes early enough is able to combat the negative effects of stress and help prevent further harm. Some of the most common early warning signs of excess stress are chronic fatigue, excessive irritability or moodiness, amplified or disproportionate anxiety, poor emotional control, noticeable changes in appetite, sleep patterns or sex drive, insomnia, critical feelings of dependency or helplessness and withdrawal from normal activity or responsibility. One may even verbally express signs of stress by making comments or talking about not being able to relax, feeling tense, and inability to focus or stay on task They may verbalize that they don't feel good, right or are miserable and don't know why. If you pay close attention you may notice that you feel extremely fatigued, the TV may sound like it is blaring, a door being shut sounds like it was slammed. One may argue or yell at those around them for seemingly no or petty reasons. These are indicators that stress has reached a critical level and needs to be dealt with. While it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress it is of equal importance to be prepared for situations or events that are potentially stressful. coping with stress

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It's also a good problem solving tool; you can often resolve problems by coming up with solutions on paper. Writing down your thoughts and feelings and the events that occur in your life helps you to recognize the habits and routines that so often contribute to stress. 

You are better able to identify specific stressors such as people or happenings that are contributing to your stress and you can make adjustments so that you dont fall into the traps and pitfalls of stress. If you get into the regular habit of writing down your deepest feelings and anxieties; those old thought patterns, insecurities and fears don't have a chance to take hold and intensify.  

Keep a stress diary. Jot down when you feel stressed, what led to the stress, and how this made you feel. A stress diary can be a helpful tool when trying to find the best stress management techniques for you.

The best way to get started using journal keeping for stress management is to get a notebook and write down any current stress you have and when something makes you feel stressed. Then write how you reacted and what you did to deal with the stress.