April is stress awareness month, experts share tips to be tension free

Conceptualised to not just increase public perception about stress, but also devise ways to fight it daily, doctors and psychologists across the world are using the opportunity to make youngsters aware of an increasingly global epidemic. 

With stress-induced illnesses affecting people even under the age of 30 regularly – due to various modern-day reasons such as inability to maintain a healthy work-life balance, relationship woes and job dissatisfaction ranking high among them. 

However, with a wealth of resources available on the internet – as well as awareness on mental health – experts say that stress can be combated easily. 

Dr G Elangovan, an independent healthcare professional in the city, says, “If left unchecked for too long, stress can prove to be deadly. It’s called the ‘silent killer’ because its effects are not immediately visible – but it leads to serious issues like high BP and heart disease.” 

He adds, “Many students these days also get upset for irrelevant issues at a young age – so when they face a real, tangible problem later – it raises their stress levels to no end. Parents should teach them at a young age to deal with problems with a calm mind and react accordingly. Companies can start wellness programs to help employees cope with work life better.”

Psychologist Nikita Vyas of the Dreamscape Studio states that several entrepreneurs in Chennai she counsels, feel too guilty about relaxing. “They feel that if they take a break, they’ll lose out on their efficiency to work till they reach an extreme stage of burnout. Another reason for stress is because of the myth that if you don’t work hard you won’t succeed. The idea is not to work hard for long hours and time, it is what you do in all that time,” says Vyas.

Happiness coach Arna Chugani says, “Ultimately, it comes down to developing a friendship with yourself – and setting aside time every day to make oneself happy. A simple activity of choice for ten minutes a day can go a long way towards improving one’s stress levels.”