Pressure can build up on any of us, at almost any time.

And you probably know, that what you can cope with one day can seem unbearable the next.  This is because stress isn't about the actual amount of pressure we are under.  It is about our perceived ability to cope with the demands we perceive are being placed on us.

In other words, it isn't so much a consequence of our circumstances, but of our reaction to our circumstances.  Which is good news.  Because while our circumstances may be beyond our control, our reactions are not.

Here are some things to do when you feel the pressure is getting too much:

1. Take a break.  Stop what you're doing, or thinking about the problem.  Do something else which is well within your control - take a walk, phone a friend, play with the dog, meditate.  The situation may look different when you go back to it.
   
2. Focus on what you can do, not what you can't do.  Dealing with the whole situation may seem too much.  So chunk down.  Break it into steps.  Something you can do might be to ask for help or advice.
   
3. Draw on previous experience.  Think about other situations that you have dealt with, even though at the start, you thought you couldn't.  You're probably far more resourceful than you realise!
   
4. Talk it over.  Ask a friend or colleague to act as a sounding board.  They don't have to come up with an answer, just talking it through can often help to get things back into perspective.
   
5. Of course, any of the above can seem too much if you're seriously wound up.  So learn to relax.  Yoga, breathing exercises, guided relaxation and meditation are all good ways of clearing your mind so you can focus more effectively.