To find out which method of beating this modern malady is best, we recruited five guinea pigs from among our readers. For the past month, our volunteers have tried methods ranging from exercise to herbal remedies. How have they got on?

Nikolai Kulow, 29, from Edinburgh, runs his own software company. He is taking Tai Chi classes.

"I've certainly felt more relaxed since taking up Tai Chi. This might be because I'm expecting to be de-stressed, so perhaps I notice it more when I'm relaxed.

"Doing Tai Chi every day has focussed me on my inner well-being, and taking the time to do it means I avoid just going out for coffee - which is no doubt healthy.

"The big realisation is that my body is not the limber temple of health I'd imagined it to be. This disappointment might be the catalyst for change, and may make me want to be more than a beginner.

"The problem is that I find Tai Chi a bit boring. I'd rather play football with a few mates in the park. Nor does it tackle the causes of stress. It helps you resist stress when it hits, but my sleepless nights stem from running my own business. I can't help thinking if I gave it up, I'd sleep better.

"So the question is - should I accept stress and fight it head on, or should I just avoid it completely?"

Hope Liebersohn, 58, of Islington in London, is a lawyer. She is trying mind exercises to relax.

"The mind exercises are quite a good discipline. Most successful for me is to relax and clear the mind to go to sleep.

"You don't realise how tired you are when the pressure is on, and I can sometimes feel myself sinking down into unconsciousness, like Alice dropping off into Wonderland down a rabbit hole.

"Once I relax, I can catch some Zzzzs on the train or anywhere else. And if I think of it as 'power-napping', it's less embarrassing if my mouth drops open in public.

"Thinking of beautiful things is good, and I'm sure my dress sense, posture and elegance have improved as a result. I've started reading poems for fun. But a bad hair day, lack of exercise, dishonest insurance reps at work, or harsh words from a friend still get to me.

"While I haven't morphed into a laid-back smiley person all the time, these exercises have made the world a little nicer and they've become a habit, so thank you."

Lucy Odling-Smee, 28, from London, works on a major science journal. She is going to bed an hour earlier than usually every night.

"Going to bed an hour earlier has definitely given me more than just another hour of dreams each night.

"I feel smarter, healthier and happier and would recommend it to anyone who tries to pack too much into their week.

"The problem is having the discipline to stick to it. But getting the better of stress is all about having the discipline to not let it rule your life.

"Now that the longer summer days are upon us, I've started cycling to work as well, which probably makes more of a difference than the sleep. More exercise means better, deeper sleep, more oxygen in my brain, and higher energy levels in general... life's definitely looking up."

Dan Broome, 21, is a law student from Birmingham. He goes for a 30-minute run, four times a week.

"I've been running for several weeks now and have to admit, I'm getting bored. Initially I was thrilled that my time improved after each run, but now I'm just fed up with it.

"This is not to say that it hasn't proved to be a stress-buster. It's still providing me with a good time to think about my work and plan ahead, so I can get more done. As a result, I feel happier and less stressed about the final exams situation.

"Overall, anaerobic exercise is a great way to relieve stress. As your mind wanders whilst you gasp for air, you easily forget the troubles of everyday life.

"What's important is to find an activity you fully enjoy. As I've always preferred swimming to running, I plan to do more of that instead. I will just have to try and not get too stressed out by the man in the Speedos tearing up and down the pool, crashing into the casual swimmers."

Chris Hurst, 35, from Dartford, is a project manager for a leading European bank. He's gone holistic with herbal remedies, including lavender baths.

"After increasing my dosage of Ginkgo Biloba I really did notice a difference. It made me 'racy' and I had difficulty sleeping. I had to cut back to one tablet to maintain my sanity. Great stuff if you want to party all night!

"Ultimately the herbal remedy did nothing to improve my stress levels; in fact it did the opposite by affecting my sleep, although I did have some very vivid dreams.

"The lavender bath never happened because I just didn't have time, but the shower gel was very refreshing and I will continue to use it.

"I don't think that any substances, herbal or otherwise, can reduce stress. Substances just get in the way of clarity. My secret for controlling stress is to try and be positive, whatever situation I am in."