StressLess: Proven Methods to Reduce Stress, Manage Anxiety and Lift Your Mood

by Matthew Johnstone, Michael Player

If you're alive, you experience stress. It's just part of being human. For early man, stress helped us flee danger like a marauding mammoth, a hungry sabre-toothed tiger or an invading tribe. It literally helped us fight or flight. In modern society a little stress is useful, it keeps us energised and motivated to get things done, it helps us to turn up and be on time. Yet too much stress is harmful, and stress is sadly, at an all-time high. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to avoid or substantially reduce stress in our lives. The things that make us stressed are the same things that always too much work, not enough time, financial woes, family needs, navigating difficult relationships - these familiar scenarios aren't likely to change. So if we can't change the things that cause us stress, we must change the way we interact with it.When we feel threatened or endangered in any way, our body and mind react accordingly. Unfortunately, these days our brain sees many 'threats', even if they're not actually a danger to us. This 'stress' is a major problem and is now considered to be a major precipitating factor in almost all major diseases. Yet if we're prepared to learn from it, stress can be a useful teacher. Coping with moderate amounts of stress builds a sense of mastery and it promotes resilience for life down the road. Stressed spelled backwards is Desserts. With that in mind; through this beautifully illustrated book from illustrator and speaker Matthew Johnstone and experienced clinician Michael Player, the hope is to turn one of the most unpleasant of human experiences into a sweet one.

Genres: Self Help

388 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2019

About the author

Matthew Johnstone is a passionate mental health and wellbeing advocate. He's an author, illustrator, photographer, public speaker and is also the creative director at the Black Dog Institute. He lives in Sydney Australia with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[Jarrod Smith]

Did not finish

[Izabela Brzezinska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the best books I have picked up in a while. So easy to read and understand. I'm a busy parent, who juggles and struggles and says yes to more than I can possibly manage. Yet the emotional rollercoaster has been the norm. Implemented few changes and my world has improved exponentially. Everyone is getting a copy of this. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[BookwormJordi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read - it provided practical tips and tricks that you could use to reduce stress. The illustrations were cool and all concepts were explored and explained in depth. As a previous stress-head (and still working through managing it) I would recommend this read to all the stress heads out there! You have nothing to lose and everything to learn :)