How to Deal with Stress

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Straightforward, easy to read and highly practical, How to Deal with Stress puts the reader back in charge of their life and shows how to manage stress calmly and efficiently. Written by two internationally-recognized experts in the field of stress management, the book shows how to identify the underlying causes of stress before setting out a clear plan to manage both the causes of stress and their effects.How to Deal with Stress is crammed with invaluable tips on topics such as time management, exercise, nutrition and relaxation techniques. It offers not just a structured plan to manage stress but is also a practical handbook for both home and office, to dip into for quick advice, should the need arise.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Acknowledgements (p. ix)
• Introduction (p. 1)
• 1 What is stress? (p. 7)
• Simple definition (p. 7)
• Pressure and stress (p. 8)
• Costs of stress (p. 10)
• How do you cope with stress? (p. 15)
• Are you in control? (p. 18)
• Health locus of control (p. 20)
• The biology of stress (p. 21)
• Summary (p. 25)
• 2 A working model of stress, coping and resilience (p. 27)
• A model of stress, coping and resilience (p. 28)
• Helpful versus unhelpful troublesome negative emotions (p. 36)
• Important: choice of interventions (p. 39)
• Summary (p. 40)
• 3 Changing your thinking (p. 41)
• Changing your thinking: it isn't a modern concept! (p. 41)
• As simple as ABC! (p. 42)
• Thinking errors (p. 46)
• Helpful challenging questions (p. 61)
• 'Pros and cons' (p. 70)
• Stress thought record (p. 74)
• Dealing with your own anger (p. 77)
• Overcoming the self-esteem trap (p. 81)
• Accepting others but not their behaviour (p. 84)
• Inference chaining (p. 86)
• Summary (p. 89)
• 4 Changing your imagery (p. 91)
• Coping imagery (p. 92)
• Self-motivation imagery (p. 93)
• Staying focused (or goal) imagery (p. 95)
• Time projection imagery (p. 96)
• Relaxation imagery (p. 97)
• Anti-craving imagery (p. 98)
• Summary (p. 100)
• 5 Changing your behaviour (p. 101)
• What type are you, A or B? (p. 101)
• Social support (p. 104)
• Assertiveness training (p. 107)
• Assertiveness rights (p. 109)
• Assertiveness skills (p. 110)
• The three-step model of assertion (p. 111)
• Time management (p. 113)
• Top tips for the time manager (p. 115)
• Developing goals (p. 116)
• Summary (p. 118)
• 6 Improving your physical health to help you conquer stress (p. 119)
• Alcohol (p. 121)
• Caffeine (p. 123)
• Exercise (p. 124)
• Nutrition (p. 125)
• Weight control (p. 129)
• Smoking (p. 131)
• Relaxation (p. 131)
• Summary (p. 138)
• 7 Dealing with work-related stress (p. 141)
• Definition of stress (p. 142)
• The financial and health impact of work-related stress (p. 142)
• How do you cope with stress at work? (p. 147)
• The unfit manager (p. 149)
• The fit manager (p. 151)
• Work related stress risk assessment and interventions (p. 153)
• Before you start a work-stress risk assessment (p. 157)
• A comprehensive approach (p. 162)
• What can you do? (p. 165)
• Summary (p. 166)
• 8 Stress self-audit (p. 167)
• 9 Developing your own action plan (p. 171)
• 'Stress carriers' (p. 171)
• Home-work interface (p. 172)
• Action plan (p. 173)
• Sample stress management action plan (p. 174)
• Start now (p. 177)
• Summary (p. 178)
• Appendix (p. 179)
• References and bibliography (p. 185)
• Useful organisations (p. 189)