Before Christmas, we introduced the 4As Strategy of coping with stress standing to avoid – alter – accept and adapt. Here are some more tips to help you to get through difficult days.

If you are already stressed, things you usually cope with, like a tube strike, can push you over the edge and cause you severe worry, anxiety and exhaustion.

Look after yourself – getting through a difficult day is easier if you are feeling well. For tips on keeping fit in winter, check our Winter survival guide.

Be well prepared – Prepare things that help relax you. Charge your phone / iPod and fill it with music or audiobooks to help you feel relaxed.  Keep a light, fun read handy for a little escapism or pop into the pictures on your own or with someone for a complete switch-off from stressful thoughts.

Ask yourself, “Can I do anything about this?” – Stress about something that isn’t in your hands is the worst. Take a step back and think about what you can do to work around the issue but protect yourself from the impact of stress.  If it is something you can change, getting a clear and specific plan in place, broken down into individual steps, will help you feel more in control.

If you find unexpected life situations too challenging to overcome and hard to cope with, seek the help of a caring and supportive therapist who can help you understand the causes and what you can do to support yourself. Work with an experienced therapist, Dr Ali Shakir, a member of the Stress Management Institute.