There are many instances in a woman’s life when one may feel unable to cope. One might feel life is too stressful, too challenging to control and feelings of loneliness sometimes prevail too. These are times when every woman needs to actually stop and assess her life, come up with new ways how to cope better and thus secure the life she has always wanted.

This was the theme of a one hour talk hosted at Oysho in the Point last Saturday 11th February which was conducted by psychologist Elaine Dutton to mark the launch of a new campaign by the Health Promotion Unit entitled “In Tune With Life…For Every Woman.”

This campaign is coordinated by Corporate Identities and is supported by Oysho which funded the production of an attractive informative leaflet on important tips on how a woman can react to feel better in times of stress.

“Oysho is a brand that appeals to women in a unique way because it allows them the feel more comfortable with their intimate clothing needs. Oysho respects the need of every woman who wants to feel comfortable with herself and this is why we have gladly accepted to support this important campaign,” said Annabelle Caruana, Oysho brand manager.

A recent study conducted in the US by the American Psychological Association confirmed a well known perception – that unlike stressed men, women know when they are stressed, they live it and they seek to do something about it.

The annual Stress in America survey, conducted among 1,226 adults ages 18 and older living in the United States finds that women historically have reported higher levels of stress than men and did so again in 2011. Over the past year, on a 1-10 scale of little-to-no stress to a great deal of stress, women report stress at a level of 5.4 and men at 4.8. But the gender divide is more pronounced when it comes to dealing with the stress or even wanting to own up to it.

Stress happens when people perceive that the demands they face — work, school or relationships — exceed their ability to cope, say experts with the psychological association. At times, some stress can be beneficial because it produces a boost that can fuel the drive and energy to get through tough situations, such as exams or work deadlines. But an extreme amount of stress can be harmful to health. In addition to the emotional toll, untreated chronic stress can result in anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system. Research shows that stress can contribute to the development of major illnesses, such as heart disease, depression and obesity.

Some tips and suggestions to help you feel better:

• Be conscious of your self esteem
• Talk to someone you trust
• Learn to manage your stress
• Take time to enjoy yourself
• Avoid alcohol and if you drink, do it moderately
• Make healthy food choices based on the Mediterranean diet
• Take up regular physical activity
• Get enough sleep
• Take a closer look at your relationships
• Be conscious of any negative feelings and address them

Stress by the numbers