Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used to. Some stress is normal and even useful. Stress can help if you need to work hard or react quickly. For example, it helps athletes win competitions and journalists meet deadlines.

However, stress that occurs too frequently or for a sustained amount of time can be very harmful to a person's overall health. Stress is related to headaches, an upset stomach, back pain, sleep problems and can make a person moody, tense, or depressed.

Managing stress is a challenge. Here are some tips to help you manage your stress level.

Coping Skills: What activities do you engage in when under stress? Some people eat unhealthy "comfort" food, others smoke or consume alcohol or other drugs. A healthy alternative to these activities is to exercise. Being physically active improves your mood in the short term and your health in the long term.

Support Network: When you feel overwhelmed or completely stressed out, consider who you may ask for help. What kind of help do you need? Who is best suited to providing you with that help? People who have a strong network of supportive family and friends manage stress better. Sometimes stress is simply more than you can handle on your own. Talking to a friend or family member may help, but you may also want to see a mental health professional.

Physical Relaxation: There are many physical activities that help relieve stress such as: breathing exercises, muscle relaxation exercises, massage, aromatherapy, and yoga.

Time Management: Start by creating a list of things that need to be done, then rank them in order of importance. Finally, work your way down the list starting with the most important task. If you are not able to complete all your tasks, evaluate the items on your list to determine if there are ways to streamline these tasks or if some of them can be done by someone else.

Expressing Your Emotions: Keeping a diary may assist in expressing your emotions. Writing about what is bothering you may help you find clarity in your thought process as well as release some of the tension that you are carrying. Another way to release your emotions may be to watch a movie, play or television show that inspires a particular emotion, a comedy, for example. Another option is to listen to particularly meaningful music.

Spiritual Renewal: Many people find spiritual renewal associated with prayer and meditation. This may come from private reflection, interpretation and studying of religious texts, interacting with others of the same faith or joining an interfaith initiative.

Take a Break from Caregiving: Nothing helps a caregiver relieve the stress of caregiving and recharge you batteries like getting a temporary break from caregiving responsibilities, whether it is just hours, a day, or a week or more.  This break provides respite from the stress, and there are many options for caregivers who seek a respite break.  Adult day service may provide one option.