Catherine Pratt – How Do You Handle Stress?

Think back to the last big problem or crisis you had to deal with? Try to remember what was the most stressful part about it? Can you remember?

The most stressful aspect was probably imagining potential consequences that might occur due to that event. For example, if your car broke down, you might imagine not having a car anymore or dealing with huge repair bills or being late for an appointment or even losing your job because of it.

It’s these thoughts which cause you far more stress than the actual problem.

I’ve been through this myself and I have good news! There is an easier way to handle stress. 

During a Spring thunderstorm, water began to pour in through my kitchen ceiling through numerous different holes. (Imagine one of those old Western movies where the family is huddled in the corner holding on to frying pans and bowls trying to catch all the rain pouring in. That was the scene in my kitchen.) The roof is only three years old. This shouldn’t be happening. Yet it was, and with a vengeance. As I put out numerous buckets and bowls and towels to catch all the drips, I found myself feeling depressed.

When I stopped to think about why I was feeling depressed, I realized my feelings came from thinking about things that hadn’t even happened yet. I was thinking, “How am I going to pay for a new roof?” and “Where am I going to get the money to fix this?” All sorts of horrible things rushed through my head.

I didn’t even know how much a new roof would cost and yet I was worrying that I wouldn’t be able to pay for it. I didn’t even know if a new roof was the solution. My mind had decided to imagine every wild and crazy and negative thought it could come up, which caused me to feel very stressed and fairly depressed.

Once I realized this and stopped imagining future disasters, it wasn’t a problem anymore. My feelings of depression instantly lifted. The situation no longer seemed completely overwhelming. I knew I could deal with it.

“Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.” ~ Anonymous

I was amazed at how changing my thoughts caused the experience to change. The problem was the same but I realized I could make a decision – the experience could be one of stress, worry, and anxiety or I could choose to simply take action with what was in front of me while staying completely calm. It was actually a relief to let the ‘unknowns’ go. This turned out to be a much easier way to handle stress.

It wasn’t until I became aware of my thinking during a crisis that I realized how much time and energy I had been wasting imagining possible terrible consequences. These thoughts take us over, causing more stress, making it much more difficult to deal with the immediate situation.

Here are four easy ways to handle a stressful situation:

During times of stress, become aware of what you’re feeling. If you feel angry, frustrated or depressed being to question your thoughts. What are you thinking about; the current situation or possible consequences? 

If you are thinking about what might happen, you are focusing on future events that may never occur. Let those thoughts go. They don’t serve you. They only make the situation much more difficult than it needs to be. 

Bring your attention back to the present moment and simply deal with what’s in front of you without the added “stories”. 

Remind yourself that your reaction to a stressful moment is a choice.

You may be pleasantly surprised at the difference these tips can make in your ability to cope with stressful events. It is said that 95% of what we worry about never happens. With these few suggestions at your disposal, you may feel more in control of your emotions during a stressful situation and yet far less stressed.

Real Woman Guest Contributor, Catherine Pratt is the author of five books who specializes in the subject of self-confidence. Visit Catherine at www.life-with-confidence.com