How to Manage Stress By Improving Your Communication Skills

Stress is a part of everyday life.  It can creep up at the most convenient or inconvenient times.  Whether small or large, the causes of stress are wide and varied, bringing with them intense emotion and excitement.  But even amid pressures and not so expected events, you can manage to find peace in the face of conflict.

The question is: What is the best way to deal with stress, when it feels as though every emotion within you is racing?

Listen

If you’re stressed over everything under the sun, your emotions are running on hyper speed.  Your thoughts are moving faster than a freight train, and you can’t seem to sort out thoughts.

When this happens, you have already been propelled into the fight or flight mode.  Your brain is trying to put the puzzle pieces together.  And most likely, you don’t have time to hone in on how you feel about the situation.

Slow down.  Grab the reins, and get in touch with what you are feeling.  Sometimes people find it hard to communicate their own thoughts when they’re stressed.  But stress management requires that you get in touch with yourself.  When you take time to really get to know yourself and your feelings about the situation, you are that much closer to figuring out how to solve the problem.

Communication

Sometimes just talking things out with a friend or close loved one can ease the stress of the situation.  A spouse can sometimes see things in you that you can’t always see in yourself.

When you open up to a significant other, you make yourself vulnerable to your true fears and feelings about the stress at hand.  And you are finally able to release some stress.

Tell your partner what they can do to help ease your stress.  And if possible, ask for a back rub.  Not only does this feel good, but also it helps you get rid of some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Your muscles tense up when you’re stressed, and your breathing quickens.  A soft massage helps loosen muscle tightness and encourages deep breathing, which in turn, will help you get rid of stress’ physical manifestations.

If you talk to a family member or close friend, ask if they have any suggestions.  Other people may sometimes be able to give you advice on how to alleviate your stress.  As a means of stress management, talking about the source of your stress helps get out emotions that are bottled up inside of you.  It also gives others the opportunity to help you out.

Communicating, as a stress management technique, can be done in a number of ways.  For example, you may find that recording your thoughts in a journal or diary is a great way to get stressful feelings outside of your body and onto an external source.

When you write in a diary, you can also keep a record of your life and what may be bothering you.  And you can always go back and read later to see how you’ve improved.

When you’re under any kind of stress, good or bad, you tense up emotionally as well.  When you keep these feelings inside, you can feel as though you’re about to burst.

To avoid this problem, or to at least cut down on your pressure, don’t let the burden rest on you alone.  If the problem rests on you to solve it, try to develop a game plan, and ask someone if they will be there to talk to you and help you through each step of your stress.

People are generally very receptive when they know you’re under stress.  Also, it may help to ask your partner to share the responsibilities of taking care of your home and family.  If you’re too stressed out at the end of the day, ask your partner if they can put the kids to bed or make dinner, if that is usually your responsibility.

Take a stress management seminar.  A lot of states, provinces and community centers offer stress management seminars.  These seminars simulate stressful situations, and often give you the opportunity to vent your feelings about a stressful situation.  They may even act out stressful scenarios to see how you respond.

Attending these seminars gives you the opportunity to communicate your own feelings and get feedback from others.  Stress management seminars usually average about two hours in length, and are a great way to channel negative energy into a constructive solution.

When you find yourself getting stressed, it’s important to remember that communicating your feelings or venting frustrations are great ways to take the pressure off your heavy heart and onto someone who can help you.

Friends and family are some of your greatest sources of stress relief.  They are there to offer help and guidance.  Take this help, and run toward a more sane life!