Your attitude to stress governs how much stress you will suffer

Your ability to manage and tolerate stress is down to your attitude to stress and life.

Do you take responsibility for your actions?

Can you isolate cause and effect?

Do you realise stress is your reaction to excessive pressure?

Do you realise you can manage your response to pressure and indeed manage your stress?

It is crucial that your attitude to stress is one of learning and a desire to change. You can deceive - but usually it is just yourself - as others can see through any bravado/ 'front' and observe the changes in you - the pain, distress, anger, tiredness, impatience, decreased performance and lack of concentration ... that so often accompany stress. They may even try to show their concern and suggest stress as a cause - but are you aware, do you notice, or do you just pretend everything is OK and hope that working harder will overcome the problems?

So be open minded - seek the opinion of those around you you can trust - be they relatives, friends or a professional.

It is very important to start by visiting your doctor and discuss how you feel, what others have said, effects/ symptoms/ diseases/ concerns you have observed.

It is easy to say; "I can cope", "nothing is wrong", I just need to try or work harder", or "it is only a little problem - it will go away".

Sadly, unless your attitude is one of learning and acceptance that you may have a problem with stress and need to to understand what the causes are and how you can manage your stress it will likely get worse.

To sum up, your attitude, self awareness, acceptance and desire to manage stress is essential to your well-being, your health and to help those around you.

• on the importance of your attitude to stress
• to return to personal stress management for you