There is a huge, huge difference between stress and stressed out.
Stress is but a normal part of life - without stress, life would be mundane and out of challenges to help us maximize our potentials.
Stress is a way of restoring balance between the body and the environment.
We cannot always control the environment, but we can always struggle to compromise.
That is stress - it is completely normal.
However, "stressed out" is when the body and the mind have ineffective reactions to challenges that is brought about by any aspect of life.
Anxiety, to a certain extent, can be productive.
Being anxious can allow us to think and faster and more efficiently.
However, when anxiety overwhelms us, we are closer to panicking, which is counter-productive.
Too much anxiety prevents logical thinking, and brings about physical hazards too.
It is both a skill and an art to control anxiety and manage stress.
Here are some dos and don'ts of excellent and effective Anxiety and Stress Management.
Do breathe deeply and diaphragmatically.
The deeper you breathe, the more oxygen you can get into your body.
In times of stress, you need oxygen to be able to think clearly before you act or say anything.
When you are anxious about something, close your eyes and inhale deeply through your nose, then exhale through your mouth.
Do this at least five times.
You'll be amazed at what it can do in calming you down.
Do not frown.
The more you do the more negative attention you attract from yourself and from others.
Smiling is almost a reflex when we're happy, but when we're stressed out, can it work? Scientists say that smiling sends a message to the brain through the limbic system, or the emotional center of the brain, so that we become calmer.
So yes, it does work.
Do massage yourself in mini ways.
You may not notice it at all, but when you are stressed, so are your muscles.
This is your body's way of preparing for a "fight or flight" reaction.
Tensed muscles keep you alert, but that doesn't mean they are a good thing.
They can actually cause some aching.
The slightest massage can do wonders.
When you're tense, you can massage the palm of your hand by using your other hand's thumb.
Support your massaged hand with the rest of your fingers behind the hand.
Do not binge on caffeine or alcohol.
Drinks that contain caffeine like coffee or cola, and any alcoholic beverage will only mess up your nerves even more, making you incapable of dealing with the reason for your stress.
Caffeine increases your ability to stay awake for longer, and gives you the jitters, but doesn't do much to your ability to concentrate, so you may end up being counter-productive.
Alcohol is a downer - it gives you a temporary escape from reality, but also gives you a bad hangover, and an even worse set of troubles the morning other.