As we all know, managing stress often comes down to how well we cope with different situations, from handling the children at home, getting an important project completed at work or negotiating terms with the bank manager.

But according to Ann McCracken, we might be able to cope better with pressure if we admit the way we perceive various scenarios could be improved.

"Many people believe stress results from the actions of other people and situations they experience; however, by accepting that we can influence most situations through our personal approach to them we put ourselves back in control," she pointed out.

"Learning how to develop a problem solving approach to life, seeing situations as an opportunity to do things differently, and taking a metaphoric step back to take some time to assess options can be a route to reducing the pressure the individual is experiencing."

Ms McCracken highlighted the importance of relieving stress before it gets too much for us, which can result in ill health such as migraines, high blood pressure, skin conditions, heart problems and asthma.

But she warned against using food to reduce stress, as the kind of food we turn to in times of pressure is usually high in refined sugar and fat, which may lead to bloating, weight gain and lethargy - exactly what you don't want to be dealing with on top of stress.

Instead, try to find natural relaxation methods that help you switch off those negative thoughts and allow you to think clearly about the cause of your stress.

"Alternative health [methods] can be helpful in many ways when integrated into a life health plan, as they are usually holistic in approach, working with the health and wellbeing of the whole body," Ms McCracken added.