| We all experience stress in our daily life. It is also | | | | taking illicit drugs. These responses are at best |
| quite common to have been prescribed a tranquilizer, | | | | temporary diversions and provide a brief sense of |
| to help you cope with stress. Juggling between a load | | | | relief and it leaves the person worse off than they |
| of tasks and things to worry about has become a | | | | were initially. |
| daily routine in all our lives. But amidst this stressful | | | | How do we start reacting positively toward stress? |
| life that you're living, did you ever stop to think how | | | | The answer is to learning how to view your stressful |
| you need to take better care of yourself? Did you | | | | situation in a different way. One that allows you to |
| ever stop to think about taking charge? Have you | | | | face the challenge, without essentially feeling |
| ever tried to destress? | | | | controlled, defeated or doomed by it. While most |
| Stress is not always a bad thing! Stress is a natural | | | | people believe they have no choice when dealing with |
| reaction- a little of bit of stress is what keeps us | | | | the stresses that occur in our daily lives, both large |
| going. This type of "acute" or "good" stress is what | | | | and small, expected and unexpected, the fact |
| brings out the best in us in a project, or when faced | | | | remains that we do. |
| with a deadline or challenge. It is also what helps us | | | | Perception Change: I learned how to step back and |
| get through emergencies. However, how we | | | | take a look at the bigger picture, and placed what |
| perceive and respond to stress is the key to taking | | | | seemed to be overwhelming into a broader |
| control. It can be the difference between maintaining | | | | perspective, which minimized its importance and |
| our health and developing a stress related disease. | | | | meaning. |
| More than 80 per cent of all doctor visits are stress | | | | 1. Is this situation that important? |
| related. When we are exposed to prolonged or | | | | 2. Will it be as upsetting as it is to me today, |
| undefined stress, or when several sources co-exist, it | | | | tomorrow, next week, next month, next year? |
| is much harder for us to recover and return to our | | | | 3. What similar situations have I faced and lived |
| normal state. | | | | through? |
| Our bodies created a response to life threatening | | | | 4. How do I feel about those now? |
| situations. Fear triggers an immediate surge of | | | | 5. Can I feel the same way about this one? |
| hormones that prepares the body to run or fight. On | | | | Affirmations: Another effective and valuable |
| the short term basis, that is an excellent, protective | | | | technique I've learned is using affirmations. Believe it |
| mechanism from which the body recovers. However, | | | | or not, this is a powerful way to relax and overcome |
| dealing with stress on a continuous basis, in a way | | | | stress. Some of my favorite ones are: |
| that constantly causes the release of these stress | | | | 1. This too shall pass |
| hormones, can lead to depletion of our adrenal glands. | | | | 2. All things are possible. |
| Negative emotions actually trigger a cascade of | | | | 3. I rise above this situation now, and move forward |
| physiological responses, including the release of | | | | 4. Nothing can change my peace of mind-even this |
| norepinephrine, a chemical messenger known to | | | | situation |
| suppress immune function. Also, the long term and | | | | 5. I am in charge of the way I feel right now. Nothing |
| extra release of stress hormones such as cortisol | | | | outside of me can change my peace of mind, unless |
| impacts the immune system by depressing the | | | | I allow it to do so. |
| production of antibodies and messing up how our | | | | Deep Breathing: Did you know that taking a deep |
| bodies function. | | | | breath can actually change your body's physiology |
| Chronic (dis)tress is known to cause high blood | | | | and relax it? Take a few deep breaths, the next |
| pressure and heart problems. It is also common to | | | | time you feel stressed. Focus on your breathing, |
| experience migraines, back pain and much more. As | | | | moving your diaphragm in and out. Do that for 2 or 3 |
| you can see, negative stress renders the body more | | | | minutes--keeping your attention on your breath, and |
| susceptible to a variety of diseases physical and/or | | | | notice the improvement you feel at the end of this |
| psychological problems. Unfortunately, some people | | | | exercise. |
| have learned to suppress their emotions. emotions. | | | | Consistently using these proven and wonderfully |
| Others try to relieve their stress by smoking, | | | | simple techniques can have a profound impact on |
| overeating, gambling, excessive shopping or even | | | | your body, emotions and spirit. |