Awareness The first step in controlling stress is to recognize its symptoms. To do this, it helps to first identify your
particular stressors, that is, the triggers for your individual stress. This is often difficult. First, make a list of the situations, thoughts,
feelings, and events that bring stress to you.
The next step is to become aware of your personal stress profile. How do you react when you are stressed? Do you start to perspire? Do you feel
tightness or tension in the back of your neck and shoulders? Does your chest hurt? How about your stomach? Add to this list as you become more
aware of what happens to you as you experience stress. Becoming aware of your unique stressors and stress reactions is one of the most important
parts of stress management.
Once you have become more aware of how you experience stress, you can use some simple techniques to help control your stress responses, and perhaps
keep a small stress stimulus from creating a big reaction.
The following are some basic techniques that are often effective in helping people control stress. Experiment with them and see which works best for you.
Choose a topic at left and click for more information on Managing Stress.
