Stress is a fact of life, wherever you are and whatever you are doing. You cannot avoid stress, but you can learn to manage it so it doesn’t manage you.

Changes in our lives—such as going to college, getting married, changing jobs, or illness—are frequent sources of stress. Keep in mind that changes that cause stress can also benefit you. Moving away from home to attend college, for example, creates personal-development opportunities—new challenges, friends, and living arrangements. That is why it’s important to know yourself and carefully consider the causes of stress. Learning to do this takes time, and although you cannot avoid stress, the good news is that you can minimize the harmful effects of stress, such as depression or hypertension. The key is to develop an awareness of how you interpret, and react to, circumstances. This awareness will help you develop coping techniques for managing stress.

This book aims to give you an insight into stress, its impact, symptoms and causes, as well as to give you practical steps to follow to reduce your current stress. The book will also give you a wealth of stress-management tips and strategies to help you to tackle the root causes of your stress and to help you to manage stress more effectively going forward.

This book will teach you:

• The causes and effects of stress
• The signs of stress and burnout
• How to identify and understand your stressors
• How to maintain composure in stressful situations
• How to choose healthier responses to life's challenges
• How your thinking influences your emotional well-being
• Practical tools and techniques for reducing anxiety and increasing empowerment and happiness