November 4th is National Stress Awareness Day and in my capacity as a therapist, I have found I have been seeing more and more people who have reached their threshold of stress. Many take to relieving that stress through drinking alcohol, and although that may alleviate some of the metal anguish that can come with work pressures, it's not dealing with the situation in a positive way. It will increase the chances of developing depression, and it does nothing to change how you deal with stress.

A while back the Government decided to put stress management in the hands of the employers to make sure demands of the company do not put undue pressure on individuals. Absenteeism and presenteeism cost business and the Government millions of pounds each year in sickness and inefficiency.
see http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg218.pdf for more details.

Stress can affect us in many ways. The most common symptoms are not functioning 100%, feeling panicky; problems with digestion, feeling tense, poor quality of sleep, loss of confidence, feeling like there is no way out, helplessness and depression.

How we deal with stress is a learnt behaviour, and if we learn from those who are not dealing with stress very well, then we ourselves will find it difficult.

So here are my top ten tips for stress management.

1) Get some exercise, at least 20 minutes a day to get the dopamine pumping, and you will not only feel better, your body will benefit from the movement too. If your excuse is you don't have time to do that, then plan it in. Get off the bus earlier, park your car further away from the office, take a walk at lunchtime.

2) Organise yourself. I once had to get a top exec to schedule in one hour of "me time" one evening a week. She was filling all her time with meetings, socialising, doing stuff and not relaxing. Just an hour of relaxing with nothing to do, listening to relaxing music, or reading a favourite book can help unwind.

3) Take a warm relaxing bath at least once a week if you usually shower, this can help unknot muscles and make you feel really relaxed.

4) Take control of the situation, not let the situation control you. If you can find someone to help you, HR at work, or counsellors in relationships, or hypnotherapist like myself for dealing with the stress, you need to be in control of it.

5) Look at which parts of your life are lacking. Is it relationships, is it socialising? Start to make small changes so you get your life balanced.

6) Be flexible. Sometimes we get stressed over situations because we don't like change. Unfortunately we can't always choose the changes going on around us. In recession there is a lot of change and businesses struggle. Sometimes we have to accept what's going on because we can't fight it. Accepting a situation can help us reduce stress and gain a perspective on a situation. Start looking around for solutions.

7) Be positive. The brain can't tell the difference between real and imagined, so if you think the worst is happening even if it's not, then your body will respond as if it were happening. Method actors often end up feeling bad when playing a depressive role, so think positive. Catch yourself thinking negatively and change your thinking. It's not easy but vital.

8) Don't let others take advantage of your good nature, if you really don't want to do something say no. People will respect your decision. Don't take on more than you can manage, or suggest someone else may be able to help the other person.

9) Whatever you do, tackle the stress and do not use a crutch to try and take your mind off it - it will only mask the problem temporarily. You can't bury your head on the sand, sort out whatever needs to be sorted and get a friend or relative to help if necessary.

10) Smile. The brain produces more serotonin when you smile and this makes you feel more positive and in turn will help motivate you in changing stressful situations. Confidence comes from within and if we look and act confident we make this a positive habit and it becomes much more natural to us.

For information from the government on stress management in the workplace please go to: http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/furtheradvice/wrs.htm