system
How to reduce stress?
human
i am very stress from last few months and mostly attacked by night and can feel my heart start beating fast.  my brother died last month and also some other problems. try to kkep myself busy but night is very hard. some time i wake up at night. how cani relax myself and medicine to keep my self as i am very worried. thanks
gpt
Hello and thanks for writing in.I understand that this must be a very stressful time for you after the recent death of your brother. From the description of your symptoms, it appears that you are suffering from an Adjustment disorder - with predominantly anxiety symptoms.I would like to give you the following suggestions to handle your stess and anxiety problems:- Practising relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, etc. can help relieve stress.- Ensure that you get 7 - 8 hours of continuous sleep everyday. - Avoid alcohol, smoking or any other substances as they all have been associated with many psychiatric disorders, including depression.- Develop a strong social and spiritual support system. Have friends / relatives who you can trust and talk to regularly, keep up with social and religious activities frequently.- Keep your mind always active and engaged - finding a new hobby, spending time with nature, doing tasks which you enjoy, etc will all help in avoiding depressive thoughts.- Last, but not the least, seek help early: when you feel low in mood or feeling depressed or having difficulty in managing your stress, please don't hesitate to seek help immediately. Early intervention by means of counselling or sometimes medication can prevent you from going into a major depressive episode.Wish you all the best.Regards,Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)Consultant Psychiatrist