But people living with dementia can sometimes have difficulty interpreting the information coming to them through their senses because their sensory function may have deteriorated.

Sensory therapy involves carers activating one or more of a person’s senses, whether it be taste, smell, sight, sound or touch. It has been shown to improve the emotional and physical wellbeing of people living with dementia.

Sensory therapy can also help aged care staff develop a closer bond with the care recipient and help them develop a more person-centred approach to their care practice.

Using sensory therapy in aged care

Here are some ways that carers can help people living with dementia to use their different senses. By offering the opportunity to experience their environment, and perhaps talk about it, carers can improve the care recipient’s quality of life and help to calm those living with dementia.

Sometimes these activities may take place in a unique sensory room, or they can also be conducted in bedrooms or common rooms. They may be held in groups or one on one.

Touch

– Massage hands, the head, back and shoulders

– Provide manicures and washing hair can be a fantastic sensory activity

– Holding hands

– Provide experiences such as gardening and visits from small animals

– Provide interesting textures to touch, such as sandpaper, pine cones, and different types of fabric

Sight

– Train staff to be aware of lighting and the effect it may have on someone living with dementia

– Make the most of any views outside the window

– Present food so that it looks appealing on the plate, place contrasting colours side by side

– Help the person take pride in their appearance, with makeup, jewellery and clothing

– Decorate with indoors plants where appropriate

– Hang art and photographs around the home

– Play a favourite movie

– Perhaps the person would like to redecorate?

Taste

– Serve interesting and varied meals

– Offer new tastes, such as food from a different culture

– Provide unusual fruits and vegetables, as well as their favourites

– You can set up tasting activities, where the person has to choose if a food it sweet, sour, salty or bitter, and so on

Sound

– Take the time to sit and talk with the person

– Be aware of the sound and loudness of your voice – loud voices can cause people living with dementia to become agitated

– Play music and encourage dancing, clapping, singing, as well as simple listening

– Find out what types of music the person enjoys, and play that music

– Put on a concert

– Play tracks of natural sounds, such as a waterfall or gentle rainfall

– Have debates, games and quizzes

Smell

– Train staff to use pleasant aromas around the home, such as flowers or aromatherapy oils

– Lavender oil can have a calming effect and can be evaporated in an oil burner

– Use scented oils and lotions for massage

– Create a sensory garden with sweet-smelling flowers and herbs

– Talk about everyday smells, such as food cooking, coffee, or flowers

These are simple, person-centred ways you can stimulate the senses of people who are living with dementia and help them connect with the world around them, improving their quality of life, and helping to ensure they are calm and happy.

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The person has to cope with a new environment in an aged care facility. They are no longer surrounded by the familiarity and comforts of home, and they have busy, unfamiliar people all around them.

It’s not hard to understand they may feel overwhelmed and upset.

Moving into aged care also often coincides with the loss of ability or poor health, which can make the move even more trying.

But the move into aged care also has its positives.

The resident will be able to receive around-the-clock care, medical assistance is always nearby, and there are likely to be more opportunities to socialize.

At Autumn Aged Care, there are several ways we can help to ease the transition for new residents into our aged care facility.

Helping residents settle in

What can carers do to make new residents feel more at home?

• · Encourage the resident to familiarise themselves with the facility before they move in. Could they visit the home before they walk in, and even share a meal with the other residents?

• · Let staff and other residents know a new resident is moving in. Encourage them to welcome the person, and if possible, tell them a little about the person so they know what to expect and what the person might be interested in talking about.

• · Explain what is happening to the resident, and what they should expect as they settle in. Let them know it’s understandable for them to feel unsettled at first, but that it will pass. Explain daily activities and routines.

• · Build positive relationships with family and keep communication channels with them open. Warn the family the resident may feel anxious at first, and that this is normal. Keep family informed about how the resident is settling, even letting them know what the resident has been up to. Ask family if they have received any feedback from the resident and encourage them to visit often.

• · Does the resident have any cultural or language requests? Understanding the resident’s cultural identity will help make the resident feel understood, respected, valued and that they are being treated with dignity.

• · Suggest the resident bring some of their own possessions with them, including old photos, artworks, their own drinking glass or cups and saucers, and even furniture, such as a favourite chair. Being surrounded by familiar possessions will help make the resident feel at home. Help them, or encourage family, to set up the new room so it is familiar and comforting for them.

• · Answer the resident’s questions patiently, keeping in mind the enormous change they are going through. Think about a time you have been through a significant difference in your life, and how you would have liked to be reassured.

• · Learn about the resident’s life story. Talking to them about their lives and their memories is likely to make them feel happy, and will also reassure them they are around people who care about them. You may like to help the resident put together a scrapbook about their life that others can look at.

• · Find out about the person’s interests. Is it possible for the resident to continue taking part in some of those activities? Can they play their favourite music on earphones? Do they have books they’ll enjoy available to them?

• · Encourage the person to take part in the activities at the nursing home. Participating will help the person get to know other residents and make them feel involved.

• · Give them time. It generally takes around four weeks for a new resident to settle into their new home. If, at first, you notice the resident seems down or even confused, it could just be that they are adjusting to the change. Although of course if these signs persist, you should consult a doctor.

• · But most importantly, maintain a positive attitude. Let the resident know it’s normal to feel worried and even sad at first. Talk about the positives of being in care, and reassure them that their new home will really feel like ‘home’ before they know it.

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Around 30 per cent of adults over the age of 65 experience at least one fall per year. With Australia’s ageing population, that rate is only likely to go higher.

Up to 32 per cent of older people who fall will suffer a fracture, but falls can also result in decreased independence, functional decline, anxiety, and even death

A fall is often the incident that precipitates an older person moving into aged care. Up to half of all aged care residents fall at least once a year.

Why do older people fall more often?

What happens to our bodies as we age makes us more susceptible to falling.

For example, older people are more likely to have a chronic health condition, such as heart disease, dementia, low blood pressure, arthritis, or osteoporosis.

Older people are also more likely to have physical impairments that make us more likely to fall, such as poor vision, muscle weakness, or stiff joints.

What can we do to prevent falls?

What are experts telling us about the best ways to prevent falls among older people?

1. Modify your environment:
   • Install handrails in the bathroom and around the entrance ways.
   • Mark out the edge of steps to make sure they are easy to see.
   • Keep pathways even and in good condition.
   • Replace worn mats and remove trip hazards such as rugs.
   • Ensure you have adequate lighting around your home, and that floors aren’t slippery.
2. Make sure you are eating nutritious food and drinking plenty of fluids to keep your body healthy and to ensure you have plenty of energy.
3. Don’t walk around in socks or ill-fitting shoes or slippers.
4. Wipe up spills immediately.
5. Avoid ladders and footstools.
6. Take medication only as required. See your doctor if your medication is creating side effects such as dizziness.
7. Have your eyes tested annually
8. Wear hip protectors or a personal alarm if you are worried about falling.
9. Exercise. Research has shown that exercise programs can reduce the number of falls by 23 per cent. Exercises that target balance and functional performance, such as sitting down and getting up from a chair, reaching, and stepping, have the strongest evidence of effectiveness.
10. Take up Tai Chi, it’s good for strength and flexibility, and it’s also relaxing and fun.

By following these steps we can reduce the risk that older people will fall, and we can thereby help to preserve their good health, independence and quality of life for longer.

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The world has seen and experienced inexplicably dark times. These dark times have happened across continents, people groups and periods in history.

One feature arguably unites every instance and that is the utter breakdown in empathy.

Empathy is defined as “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” Empathy has long been a crucial element of humanity.

Countless scientists, academics, authors, creatives and professionals across every discipline have sought to understand what makes us humans tick and what helps us live our best lives.

Dr Helen Riess of the Empathy and Relational Science Program at the Harvard Medical School advocates the  importance of empathising with our fellow human.

Whether innate or practiced, the ability to empathise may hold much greater sway than we realised.

Within our own lives and caring, empathy has a pivotal role.

The Science Of Empathy

Dr Reiss explains in her recent study that empathy has a critical role to play in all our lives.

Whether interpersonal or on a larger societal scale, empathy helps us humans share experiences, needs and desires.

Carrying information back and forth between us as individuals, empathy builds and sustains emotional bridges that encourages pro-social behaviour.

She explains that as this phenomenon is occurring “an exquisite interplay of neural networks and enables us to perceive the emotions of others, resonate with them emotionally and cognitively, to take in the perspective of others, and to distinguish between our own and others’ emotions.”

Understanding where others are coming from has been proven throughout the years to reduce hostility, violence and negative interpersonal outcomes.

In a world where emotions can be intense, whether at home or at work, being able to understand how someone is feeling can provide insight into how to act for the best.

Studies have shown that we as humans desperately want to be understood and heard, empathy is that in action.

Empathy In Health Care

Unfortunately with the significant calls upon time, effort and resources, medical professionals and aged care workers have spoken about the difficulties of maintaining empathy.

It is completely understandable that in the routine and consistency of work that the energy to empathise will come under strain.

This is due to the fact that no human has an endless supply of social, mental, emotional and physical juices.

Sometimes the carton will run dry and so it is important to be aware of our own emotional wellbeing as aged care workers.

To be sympathetic to your own needs and training yourself to gaze internally ever so often, to see if you yourself need care and support, will aid you in your mission to provide the best care for others.

Cognitive Empathy

Dr. Riess speaks of cognitive empathy as a way to practice the skill of ‘walking in another’s shoes’.

Some of us may find it more difficult than others to empathise with those we meet and work with.

Cognitive empathy is the conscious decision to accurately discover and understand another person’s emotional state.

Discovering a resident’s emotional state may take a lot of questions, time and effort but the insight into what they are feeling, and why they are feeling that way, is likely to have hugely positive effects on the quality of care you can provide.

While the world races around at breakneck speed, many are unable to keep up and while the fast, strong and mighty are championed, there is a greater power that we can all use.

Empathy is the power to connect to our fellow human and make them know that theirs is a story worth listening to and understanding.

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One of the leading resources in this area is the collaborative endeavour by many of the aged care sectors leading organisations.

The Principles of Palliative and End-Of-Life Care in Residential Aged Care is a rich guiding resource when it comes to palliative care.

A combined effort between Palliative Care Australia, Alzheimer’s Australia, COTA Australia, Aged & Community Services Australia, Leading Age Services Australia, Catholic Health Australia and the Aged Care Guild have provided a united standpoint in establishing coherent recognition of the diverse needs of residential aged care consumers.

From residents, families, carers and aged care staff to service providers, the principles guide assists in asserting strong expectations and standards when it comes to providing palliative and end-of-life care.

How great is the need for quality palliative care?

The report details the increasing need that Australians have for high quality palliative and end of life care.

Eight years ago, 116,481 people aged 65 years and over passed away. 75% of those needed to use aged care services in the 12 months before their death.

The statistics also show that the older a person was when they passed away, the higher the likelihood that they needed and decided to access a service around the time of their passing.  

The need is great and what fuels the necessity of appropriate standards and reform in this area is the degree of vulnerability and fragility of those who are in need.

As age progresses, health, strength and resilience has a tendency to diminish, it is up to those in the sector to fight for their protection and quality of care.

A Rationale For Principles

The report highlights that in facilitating reliable access to high quality palliative and end-of-life care services in aged care facilities, and in people’s own homes, will benefit thousands of Australians in the intimate and personal time preceding passing away.

To afford older Australians the ability to have a good death, increased support for their families and carers during the end-of-life time and bereavement processes is not only a noble mission but one deeply human and entrenched in human rights.

Additionally in focussing on the best approaches to palliative care is to transparently call for the better allocation of scarce health resources.

The Principles

The report expresses eight principles that should be acted upon across the aged care sector at large.

1. Consumers physical and mental needs at end-of-life should be acutely and thoroughly assessed and recognised
2. Consumers, families and carers should be involved in end-of-life planning and decision making
3. Consumers should receive equitable and timely access to appropriate end-of-life care within aged care facilities
4. End-of-life care is to be holistic, integrated and delivered by appropriately trained and skilled staff
5. The end-of-life care needs of consumers with dementia or cognitive impairment should be understood and met within residential aged care
6. Consumers, families and carers should be treated with dignity and respect
7. Consumers should have their spiritual, cultural and psychosocial needs respected and fulfilled
8. Families, carers, staff and residents should be supported in bereavement

Powerfully the World Health Organisation defines palliative care:

“Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.”

It is in seeking to set of standards of quality and care for our most vulnerable, that we as a nation and society are able to do good for our neighbour, as well as fight for a better future for the coming generations.

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The straightforward, 5 minute neck scan could detect the likelihood of dementia developing in the brain years out from symptoms exhibiting.

Those in the medical community believe the scan could be a pivotal component of the screening approach for middle-age persons at risk of developing the disease.

The Science Behind The Study

Researchers explained that healthy, elastic blood vessels near the heart are integral to healthy brain and body functioning.

These healthy, elastic blood vessels function to soften the energy and pulse from each heartbeat, protecting the fragile blood vessels found elsewhere in the body.

Unfortunately what can occur through ageing and health deterioration is that these vessels are pressured into stiffening and consequently lose their protective abilities.

The fallout from this process is that strong pulses from the heart can reach delicate brain vessels.

As time progresses and as these delicate blood vessels are exposed to stronger energy pulses, damage is more likely to occur in the delicate blood vessels of the brain.

Experts believe that structural changes in the blood vessel network of the brain and what are known as mini strokes all may trigger the development of dementia.

Cognitive Decline

The University College London team spent 15 years thoroughly scanning 3200 of brains.

Their focus was acutely monitoring the strength of the pulse between the heart and the brain.

Researchers found that those that exhibited the strongest pulse intensity at the commencement of the study were around 50% more likely to display increasing cognitive decline over the following 15 years compared to their volunteer counterparts.

It is in detecting the pulse strengths and reach of individual brains that the study’s powerful contribution to dementia detection occurs.

The scan will be integral in detection and information gathering, not only giving medical professionals more time to assist but allowing individuals and families to have greater options and opportunities.

What The Study Will Mean For Testing

The associate medical director of the British Heart Foundation, Professor Metin Avkiran says, “This test may provide a new way to identify people at risk of cognitive decline long before they display any noticeable symptoms.

“What we need now is further research, for example to understand whether lifestyle changes and medicines that reduce pulse wave intensity also delay cognitive decline.”

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The reach the process of ageing and disease has on people is not limited.

From children of affected persons to carer staff in residential homes, many individuals in our communities are shoulders tremendous burdens of care.

It is incredibly important that as a sector, a people, a health community that we train our eyes on those who are striving to bring comfort and do life with loved ones and residents with dementia.

Understanding The Scale Of The Situation

Medical experts say that when it comes to the statistics, the most common degenerative disease is dementia.

The scale of families and carers that are serving their loved ones who have the disease is at an all-time high and this trend is showing no signs of diminishing.

Academic studies have sought to give a voice to the carers.

As family members were interviewed, the information being uncovered pointed to the majority of family members feeling their lives were irrevocably changed since their loved one’s diagnosis of dementia.

Scientific studies are increasingly finding that family members who are intimately involved in the caring of their loved one with dementia are developing depression.

Investigating Triggers

An important angle that a 2018 study sought to investigate were the factors that contributed to the development of depression and the severity of that problem.

In uncovering the pertinent factors when it comes to the depression in caregivers, the health sector at large may be equipped with a focus.

In understanding the triggering factors of depression in caregivers, a focus may be established that can help organise resources, and support, for those in our society that powerfully need it.

The Study

Of those who participated in the study, a significant proportion was found to be suffering from depression.

Nearly 70% of carers looking after loved ones with dementia were found to exhibit depressive tendencies and scores in the range of depression.

Tellingly it was the specific insights from the study that may have an integral part to play in new carer policy.

It was found that the more advanced dementia in a loved one and the less support from other family members to the primary caregiver in the process of care, the higher the tendency and severity of depression.

Additionally, the study found that the older the primary-aged caregiver was and the lower their educational attainment was, the higher the likelihood of depression developing while in a caregiver role.

Shared Responsibility

The findings from this study not only speak to the role that the health and aged care sector has to play in protecting primary caregivers but also changes that should arguably happen in how we as a society view caring and responsibility.

Regardless of task whether it is caring for a loved one with dementia, parenting, working on a project or studying, humans are not wired to do things alone.

As humans, we thrive on community, support and connection.

How much more so should we be in collaboration with others when it comes to the emotional, loving and complex process of looking after loved ones with dementia.

Everyone needs and deserves support.

As a society at large down to our family units, it is in collective support and community that our carers should have defences against depression.

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What do experts say about delirium?

Dr Orser has been researching and conducting studies concerning delirium for many years. Based out of the University of Toronto, she is the co-director of research in the department of anesthesia at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and has been dedicating her life to figure out the nuances of delirium.

According to Dr. Orser, delirium is a state of mental confusion that happens intensely. One of the particularly concerning aspects of delirium is that it can happen overnight or over short periods of time. According to experts, most cases of delirium occur unexpectedly and while the symptoms of delirium are often temporary it can last a few days up to several weeks.

Why does it happen?

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP), delirium or “acute confusional state” is likely to be brought on by medical problems, surgery or medications.

How can I tell if my loved one is going through delirium?

The RCP lists the following areas to question in determining if your loved one is exhibiting signs of delirium.

• Are they less aware of what is going on around them?
• Are they unsure about where they are or what they are doing there?
• Are they unable to follow a conversation or to speak clearly?
• Are they having vivid dreams, which are often frightening and may carry on when they wake up?
• Are they hearing noises or voices when there is nothing or no one to cause them?
• Are they seeing people or things which aren’t there?
• Do they worry that other people are trying to harm them?
• Are they very agitated or restless, unable to sit still and wandering about?
• Are they very slow or sleepy?
• Are they sleeping during the day, but waking up at night?
• Are they having moods that change quickly. Can they be frightened, anxious, depressed or irritable?
• Are they more confused at some times than at others – often in the evening or at night?

Dr Orser explains that a person with delirium may seem especially confused, suspicious of others, even loved ones, aggressive, or simply not acting like themselves. While delirium is usually temporary, medical experts advise that you contact your trusted medical professional immediately to seek the best care for your loved one.

What is dementia?

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Dementia is “is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory loss is an example. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia.”

Dementia is an umbrella term covering a group of symptoms. These symptoms are closely linked to memory loss and a decline in thinking skills, the declines in these areas significantly affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities and routines.

What do doctors assess in diagnosing dementia?

According to to the Association, doctors look at a group of five specific areas in determining if a person may have dementia.

Within these five areas, two must be significantly declining to warrant a diagnosis.

• Memory
• Communication and language
• Ability to focus and pay attention
• Reasoning and judgment
• Visual perception

What does it look like in the day-to-day?

Experts say that a person with dementia may have problems with short term memory and that will exhibit itself in their day to day.

They may have consistent problems finding their wallet, remembering to pay bills, planning and preparing meals, remembering appointments and catch ups with friends.

Dementia is progressive

Unfortunately there is no absolute cure yet for dementia. In most cases it is a progressive disease, it is likely the decline in memory function and other thinking related skills will continue to worsen.

Experts across the medical community encourage anyone who believes they themselves or a loved one has memory difficulties to see a medical professional as soon as possible. This allows for early intervention, treatments and time to plan with your support network and loved ones.

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These situations, while hopefully not common, do occur and they can be really challenging. Here are some ways that professionals, involved in health care, have approached managing agitated persons for the best outcomes.

1. Look for the signs

It can be helpful to notice and plan for someone’s mood when they are still in the beginning stages of their anger. Look for tense jaws, clenched hands, a less talkative person, a raised voice or tense posture. If you start to notice these things you can give yourself time to make a plan for how you are going to approach the situation.

2. Asking Open Ended Questions

Asking questions like, “How are you feeling now?”, “Why are you feeling this way?” or “How do you feel about it?” may allow the patient to ‘vent’ and open up about why they are feeling frustrated. Asking open ended questions, without judgment or sway, can help a patient tap into what they are feeling and what may be causing it. It also allows them the opportunity to feel heard and understood.

3. Breathe Deeply and Remain Calm

This cuch are they paying?

an be so tricky. Yet one of the ways to diffuse anger is to meet it with the opposite. If you work at remaining calm, you will be enabled to think rationally and deal with the situation. Through breathing deeply you may be able to keep your heart rate down which can encourage the body to be calm.

4. Use their name and show empathy

Using a person’s name can help them to feel focussed on and personally connected. If they have opened up about what is making them angry it can help to empathise. Would you feel frustrated in their situation? Responding with empathetic statements can help your resident feel validated and understood. “I understand how upsetting this must be for you, Margaret” and “John, I’m hearing what you’re saying, that sounds difficult to deal with.”

5. Dealing with ‘blow up’s and knowing you are not a bad person

When people get angry, they can sometimes become irrational and with that irrationality can come some very hurtful things. If a resident has lost control know that you are not a bad person, know that you are just doing your job and imagine the hurtful words bouncing off you. When a resident is having a significant episode of anger, sometimes it is best to be quiet and wait for them to finish. Of course it isn’t unpleasant but sometimes trying to interject or pacify can only fan the flame of their anger. After they have finished you can, in a calm and level voice, say, “I hear that you are angry right now, would you like me to come back?” Or “Can you tell me what you need?” or “Do you have some suggestions on ways to solve this problem?

6. Know your limits and ask for help

If a resident has been consistently angry for some time seek out your colleagues’ and boss’ opinion, advice and strategies. It is always easier to deal with difficult situations and challenges with the help of a support network. There may be more experienced staff in your workplace that have specific bits of advice for your particular situation. Asking your boss or suggesting to your colleagues that a training session on anger management could be a way for the whole staff team to learn and develop. Additionally if anyone is really struggling with a patient it is important to be open about that difficulty so that others can have the opportunity to support and brainstorm resolution strategies.

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What Is Stress?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines stress as “a reaction to a situation where a person feels threatened or anxious” and they say the symptoms “may be physical or emotional”. What makes stress particularly difficult is that anything that we may perceive as a problem to us can cause stress. Stress can occur strongly when we feel there is a problem but we feel that we won’t be able to deal with it and/or don’t have the resources to cope.

Is Stress Normal?

Experts Cherie Butts and Estner Sternberg have spent years looking into stress and its effects on the body. To a degree, when our bodies feel stress they believe it to be a natural occurrence, with our body adapting to a new situation. It is when stress is felt chronically and intensely that it can be harmful to our health, resulting in psychological and biological changes. These changes are what intensify the likelihood of becoming ill.

What Happens When We Are Stressed?

When we are faced with stress our bodies are responding in a “fight or flight reaction”. Cortisol is released in our system which diverts energy to muscles that are needed to avoid danger. While this can be helpful in the short term, i.e, making us run faster, another action of cortisol is to suppress the immune system. The National Center For Health Research says that “chronic stress causes wounds to heal more slowly than normal and leaves the body more prone to infections.”

How Do Men And Women Cope With Stress?

Dr Pilar Matud has studied the different ways men and women deal with stress. She has found that social support systems are vital in coping with stress. Her research found that the tendency to create, nurture and benefit from these social support systems, is more common in women. She found that the social support systems allowed women to copy more effectively with stress, “enhancing their immune response and resistance to diseases.”

Tips To Reduce Stress

It is important to note that experts who have looked into stress and stress management say that different approaches will work for different people. Give yourself the time to figure out the right mix of strategies to help you manage your stress.

The National Center For Health Research encourages pursuing the following stress strategies.

1. Exercise
   1. Exercising regularly can help your body deal with stress. Physical exercise causes your body to release endorphins “which make you feel better and boost your immune system.”
2. Breathing Deeply
   1. Many psychologists teach breathing exercises to help clients to be relaxed. Deep and slow breathing tells the body to slow down and has a calming effect that experts say can lower blood pressure, reduce muscle tension and decrease heart rates.
3. Maintaining A Healthy Diet
   1. Eating healthy food and avoiding processed can help build up the bodies immune system. Fresh fruits, legumes, seeds, vegetables, raw nuts and whole grains can assist the body to better deal with stress. Lowering one’s caffeine intake can also help.
4. Getting Good Sleep
   1. Studies have found that adults function better on 8-9 hours of sleep. Getting consistent amounts of sleep and keeping a consistent sleeping schedule can help balance the body to better tackle difficult times.
5. Gathering Social Support
   1. Research has indicated that expressing what you are feeling can affect your health. Reaching out to friends and family may be difficult but experts say it is incredibly important. Having your emotions validated and to know you are supported can significantly help to reduce stress. Having chats to others whether they are friends, family or a professional can be a helpful way to manage stress.
6. Seeking Professional Help
   1. Sometimes it is best to talk to a professional. Everyone at times can feel that they are overwhelmed, seeing someone who has the training to help you in your time of need is seen by the medical community as a very helpful and normal approach.
7. An Honest Look At Your Stress Triggers
   1. Sit down with yourself and deeply consider the particular points of the situation that are making you feel stressed. Ask friends and family for advice on how to approach it well and as much as you can seek to address those elements with help and support.

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