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<title>Stress Information and Resources | Stress Relief | Stress Symptoms</title>
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<description><![CDATA[Stress Articles and Information  - Useful Articles related to Stress: Stress Management, Stress Relief and much more.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:59:49 -0600</pubDate>
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<language>en</language><item>
	<title>Am I Able to Reduce Test Anxiety?</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Test-Anxiety/Reduce-Test-Anxiety.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:59:49 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Test Anxiety</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Test-Anxiety/Reduce-Test-Anxiety.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Many students experience some level of anxiousness during a test. Nevertheless, it can be a drawback and result in reduced test scores when anxiety begins to influence exam performance.There is an assortment of causes of test anxiety the most common being not having prepared properly and/or cramming for the test the night before. This is typically because of bad time management, not being organized and, of course, poor study habits.A number of students also are bothered about how they did on past exams, how they are doing compared with their peers and other students in the class, and the negative consequences of failing the test.There are actually physical signs of test anxiety during an exam just as in any other demanding situation. Some of the more pronounced symptoms include sweaty palms, perspiration, upset stomach, elevated heart rate, headaches and general tenseness in muscles.When a pupil has test anxiety, they become nervous which makes the reading and understanding of the questions on the exam more demanding. They have trouble keeping their thoughts structured, remembering concepts and key words when answering essay questions and end up doing poorly on the test even when they knew the material. Some students have mental blocking and go blank on some of the questions but then recall the correct answers when the test is over.There are a few ways to reduce exam anxiety. You need to study and know the material well enough so that you can remember it even if you are under stress. You can't be lazy and have to learn how to practice good time management. Putting off and wasting time day-dreaming while trying to study are two main causes of test anxiety as the student isn't appropriately prepared.You can build confidence by studying throughout the week/month/quarter/semester/year and avoid cramming the night before the exam. Thinking up questions from your textbooks and lecture notes helps you to concentrate on the lessons you are studying. Focus on significant words, key concepts and the examples in your textbook. When you can make a chart or outline it will help you organize the information in your book and notes. Relaxation techniques like taking long deep breaths to relax the body and reduce stress will help reduce the level of anxiety before an exam.How you study can be affected by the environment around you where you pick to study. Check for the following circumstances such as the level of noise, if there are a lot of interruptions, adequate lighting, too hot or too cold temperatures, organization and neatness of actual study area, comfort of seating arrangement and having the tools necessary, i.e., books, notes, computer for research, etc.Studying in an area where there is little distracting noise certainly helps. Many people need some noise while others prefer silence. Find what is ideal for you and try to study in that environment. Constantly checking your IM and chatting with family and friends, answering calls on your cell phone are all distractions and cut into your study time. Turn everything off and spend time later with your friends AFTER your homework and/or studying is finished.Proper lighting is important because lighting that is too muted or too intense can be distracting and make the studying process more difficult. The room should be on the cool side rather than warm which tends to make people tired and sleepy. Have a big enough area to study in and spread your materials out so that you are not feeling cramped. Studying will go quicker if you take a couple of minutes at the beginning to get organized and straighten up your papers and notes. Try to study at a desk and chair rather than a lounging area. Studying in bed makes us too comfortable and we want to sleep or watch TV instead of study. Have the proper supplies readily available (books, paper, pens, computer, calculator, etc.) so that you don't have to waste time to go retrieve them.How does one prepare or anticipate text anxiety? First one has to focus on the task at hand. Take one step at a time and think about what you are able to do about it instead of getting anxious. Clear thoughts and no negative, panicky thoughts are best. Worrying won't help anything and so just decide not to do it!How does a student best confront and handle exam anxiety? Instead of feeling scared, just concentrate on what you have to do. Concentrate on relaxing and being in control. Take deep slow breaths. Stay with the lesson in your mind. If you start to feel anxious or tense, that can act as a reminder to not panic and relax with your breathing. Mentally remind yourself to just stay with the situation at hand and over time you will be able to train your brain and body to adapt this new style during test-taking.Many students feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start sometimes. When you feel this way, just pause. Focus on the present and what steps you have to take to get done what you have to do. Don't try to eliminate fear totally; just try to manage it. Convince yourself to do it. Reason your fear away. This is not the worst thing that can happen. Do something that will prevent you from thinking about fear. Describe your surroundings to yourself. That way you won't think about worrying.Make self-statements that reinforce your progress. It worked! You did it! It wasn't as bad as you expected! You made more out of the fear than it was worth! You're progressing! You're learning to cope! You can be pleased with your progress! You like how you handled it! You can be proud of how you handled the situation! Pat yourself on the back when you have accomplished reducing your test anxiety so that it reinforces that feeling! This will help reinforce the positive thinking for the next time.
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Article Source: http://articlesland.info]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Therapy In Correlation To Your Body Cycle</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Sleep/Sleep-and-Stress-Therapy.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:54:13 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Stress and Sleep</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Sleep/Sleep-and-Stress-Therapy.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[We could all do without the stress in life that saps the happiness right out of us. If you try your best, but can't seem to do so, it might not be your fault. The natural order of your body could be in disarray, which would in turn cause you to observe a greater amount of stress throughout each day.Sleeping problems are something just about every one can honestly say they have had at one point or another. Constant sleep problems, however, would indicate that there is a problem with your natural body cycle. Insomnia, for instance, would indicate that your body rhythm is out of tune. Using sound therapy, massage therapy, and basic psychology techniques can do what medication does, but be less expensive.We all operate based on hormones. They,&nbsp;or lack thereof,&nbsp;are what gives us drive each and every day. When going through a bad week in a month, odds are that you are just lacking production of hormones. Being hyperactive may even be a sign of an abundance of the hormone. Balancing the levels is something a physician is best suited for.Stress affects your hunger in odd ways. Sometimes when you are stressed, you will see that even if you were hungry earlier, it seems that your hunger has vanished. Other times when depression sets in, with an addition of stress, you will find that your hunger is increased. In both cases there are serious health risks that you are taking by not trying to regulate your body's regular feeding cycle.Medication and drugs will easily affect the rhythm of your body. All doctors like to keep close contact to patients who are using a new drug for this reason. Even a tiny imbalance, over a long enough time period, can cause disorders such as bipolar disorder, insomnia, and of course&nbsp;regular fatigue. Before taking a drug, note your stress levels and then make another note a week after using the drug as recommended by a physician.You can find relief through medical equipment if you think you need help balancing your body rhythm. Stress therapy machines are available, such as those of sound therapy machines, that can limit stress before you go to sleep. While that may sound menial at first, sound therapy before sleep has been known to correct one's sleep cycle over a moderate period of time - even just a week.Final Thoughts: It's strange to know so little about your body, yet you are in control of it each and every day. Start using therapy devices to get your imbalances under control. If severe enough, you can also obtain a prescription from an actual medical professional.
Article Source: http://articlesland.info
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	<title>7 Little Known Insomnia Cures That Truly Work</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Sleep/Insomnia-Cures.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:41:05 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Stress and Sleep</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Sleep/Insomnia-Cures.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[The number of people searching for insomnia cures is increasing year on year. According to a number of recent studies, 1 in 3 people will have suffered considerably due to difficulty sleeping at night over the past year.If you have a particularly severe insomnia problem, then it may be wise to discuss this with your doctor. If however, you are looking for ways to help yourself, there are many natural, holistic insomnia cures available to you.One of the first steps you can take is to keep a sleep diary. This can be very effective in pinpointing changes in sleeping habits or your bedtime routine.Your body needs to receive a signal that it's time for sleep each night. Therefore, it's important to establish a regular routine at bedtime - a routine that is sleep inducing.Here are some simple insomnia cures you can try:1.&nbsp;Do your exercise during the day. Avoid exercise at night. 2. Avoid stimulants such as tea, coffee, and alcohol late at night. Eat a small, easily digested meal in the evening, preferably before 6.30p.m.3. Take a warm bath an hour or more before bed. This&nbsp;is one of the most relaxing and pleasurable insomnia cures. The warm bath water increases your body temperature. As your body cools down after the bath, a signal will be sent to the pineal gland in your brain to produce the sleep inducing hormone, melatonin.4.&nbsp;Keep the bedroom peaceful and well ventilated.5. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.6. Eat a diet full of healthy, nutrient rich foods for your body to function at its optimal level. When looking at effective insomnia cures, it is a good idea to take a supplement of 250g of magnesium every day as this mineral helps your body to relax in the evening, and&nbsp;therefore induce sleep.Low levels of magnesium in the body have been shown to lead to shallow sleep. This can cause you to wake in the middle of the night. By taking a magnesium supplement and adding magnesium rich foods to your diet, you are more likely to achieve deep, restful sleep. Foods rich in magnesium include cashew nuts, almonds, kelp, blackstrap molasses, and wheat bran.7. One of the most exciting products to come onto the market is brain training audio soundtracks that have been specifically designed to train the mind towards a normal, healthy sleep/wake pattern. This breakthrough technology has already helped thousands of insomnia sufferers to put en end to their sleep problem once and for all.By listening to a brain training audio soundtrack at bedtime, you will gradually reduce the amount of time it takes for you to fall asleep. The audio soundtracks contain scientifically produced rhythmic pulses that calms your mind towards deep, restful sleep in a gentle and natural way. After only a few weeks of using the soundtracks, you should be able to fall asleep within just 10 minutes of getting into bed, after which time you won't need to use the soundtracks anymore as your sleep pattern will have now returned to a normal, healthy pattern.
Article Source: http://articlesland.info
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	<title>Things to Know About Anti-Depressive Drugs</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Depression/Anti-Depressive-Drugs.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:19:55 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Stress and Depression</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Depression/Anti-Depressive-Drugs.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[&nbsp;
In the same way as the majority of kinds of pharmaceuticals, depressive disorder medications can result in adverse reactions, and they might not even be helpful in the end. The available data indicates that a number of strong depressive disorder medications can result in further health problems varying from a mild case of constipation to serious issues with your liver. On the other hand, these drugs are highly effective and they may well give you a new lease of life when utilized properly. There are various medicines permitted for use in dealing with depressive disorder, for instance the ubiquitous brands such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. Given that anti-depressive drugs have both pluses and minuses, it is therefore necessary that you realize all the implications of using them. Spend some time on your decision and reflect on what means the most to you before you decide to use them. To help you come to a decision whether you should use depression medication, consider the questions below and talk to your doctor about them. An essential piece of information you must learn before using anti-depressive drugs is what&nbsp;the possible negative reactions of the medication are. Because many patients may well respond in dissimilar ways to specific kinds of medicine, it is very important that you consult your medical professional regarding the possible negative reactions of particular anti-depressive drugs. Advise your health care provider about your present state of health and make known any kind of prescribed drugs, herbal remedies or over the counter treatments that you are currently using. It might be smart for you to provide your health care provider a short record of medical problems in your history. Furthermore, it will help your health care provider to establish any likely side effects that the medication may have if he or she is aware of any other medicines you are presently taking. If your physician is well informed about your medical history, a better decision can be reached. Keep in mind that your health care provider is supposed to arrive at an educated decision on your health care needs; therefore you can make the task simpler by offering all the information about your well being that is essential. Swallowing pills isn't your only option for relief from your depression. As a matter of fact, a blend of anti depressive drugs and psychotherapy has the greatest benefits for treating this condition. Speak to your physician about counseling and other treatment options. In the end, you may not have to pop a pill to get back to normal. A great number of patients get well after a handful of talk therapy sessions. You should seriously consider the benefits of this form of treatment.
Article Source: http://articlesland.info
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	<title>Depression - Do you Feel Like This?</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Depression/Depression-Anxiety-Stress.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:12:04 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Stress and Depression</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Depression/Depression-Anxiety-Stress.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Do you ever wonder if you have depression? Many of us will have feelings that fit the definition of depression, but is it really depression? Clinical depression is a mental disorder that affects millions of people, disrupting lives by&nbsp;weaving itself into all aspects of our lives.&nbsp; Yet the feelings of depression can also be normal. Confusing? Let's look at some of the criteria for depression.Feelings of sadness are normal. Everyone experiences a blue mood once in a while. But when feelings of sadness become your only feelings, and when a blue mood turns into a persistent black cloud, you may be suffering from depression.Depression is an illness, a mental disorder that overwhelms your mind and body. It is not a transient mood that can be dismissed. The victim of depression is powerless to command it to leave. It changes how you think and how you feel. It essentially changes who you are and affects how you interact with others.Since normal feelings of sadness and the feelings of depression are very similar, differentiating between the two is usually by time and intensity. The feelings from depression are much more intense than a normal reaction to a negative event.Typically, the threshold for diagnosing depression is about two weeks. When we experience negative events, it is normal to want to withdraw and to feel sad. If after a few weeks you are still withdrawn and there is no relief from the sadness, it is possible that you have entered a depressive episode. Untreated depression can last for months to years.The good news is depression is treatable. Through a combination of therapy and medication, up to 80 percent of people with depression get better. But treatment takes time and involves some trial and error, so patience is a must.No one is immune to the effects of depression. It is not an indication of weakness or failure. If you suspect that you or someone you know may be suffering from depression, it's important to get professional advice as soon as possible.
Article Source: http://articlesland.info
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	<title>Ways To Stop An Anxiety Attack - Helpful Methods That Will Work</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Anxiety/Stop-Anxiety-Attacks.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:05:42 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Stress and Anxiety</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Anxiety/Stop-Anxiety-Attacks.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Picture yourself out in public, perhaps at the films, dinner or another social event you've been looking forward to. You are having a superb time when all of a sudden, panic sets in. Your heart begins to race ; you're feeling like you can't breathe, you're sweating and about to lose control. Sound familiar? You are experiencing a unusual amount of panic and need to be told how to stop a panic attack when it rears its ugly head.Anxiety attacks might be controlled through medicine, but this sometimes involves building up a certain level of beta blockers in your body tissue. Tranquilizers can be useful but are addictive and may exacerbate the attacks over a period. Meanwhile, you can simply learn a few relaxation techniques to bring your panic in hand or to actually stop an incipient attack from occurring.First, you must learn to breathe correctly. This involves slowly inhaling through your for a count of 4 seconds. Hold the breath for at least 7 seconds and then slowly breathe out through your mouth, making a slight whooshing sound by clenching your teeth together. Try to prolong the exhalation for roughly 8 seconds if at all possible (with practice, it is) .Now, try to visualize your panic as if it were an object you might target. Tell it to go away, that you are in control, and that you won't panic. Reassure yourself that there's nothing wrong and that the panic object is a rude visitor who must be expelled.After a moment of visualizing your panic, it is time to relax your body's muscles. Start with the feet by clenching the muscles and releasing them. Work your way up your body tightening and relaxing muscle groupings till you have reached your head. If you are still feeling panicky, repeat the process, starting with the respiring techniques we described.Surprisingly, in most situations, having an attack of agitation in public regularly goes completely unnoticed by those around you. Outwardly, you may appear calm and picked up, notwithstanding the turmoil and anxiety you are feeling. Use this to your benefit to silently control your feelings of panic as you apply the relaxation techniques discussed.These attacks of fear or fear are nothing to sneeze at, and you need to follow up with your doctor or primary carer as soon as possible to determine the root cause of the problem. In the meantime, these basic strategies to focus yourself and relax have proved effective for many sufferers of stress who are wrestling to discover ways to stop nervous attacks in a crisis.
Article Source: http://articlesland.info
Stress and Anxiety Management Tips]]></description>
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	<title>How To Cure Panic Attacks - There Is No Such Thing As Cure</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Anxiety/How-To-Cure-Panic-Attacks.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:57:24 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Stress and Anxiety</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Anxiety/How-To-Cure-Panic-Attacks.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[A lot of people have the misconception that they are stuck with panic and anxiety attacks forever. This ideology comes from their doctors and therapists, who tell them that there&nbsp;is no such thing as a cure for panic and anxiety attacks. These medical pro tell you to be taught how to live with panic and anxiety episodes. They teach you coping techniques or&nbsp;breathing exercises and ask you to modify your ethos to fit your stress. They give you medication to subdue your panic and anxiety attacks. No one questions their techniques because they are medical pros - its all medically proven.Don't misunderstand me. I'm not condemning these medical executives. Some of them do a brilliant job in helping people, but the fact is that there are&nbsp;still a lot folks out there who do not respond well to their treatment strategies and are still suffering from panic and anxiety. People need an alternative. They don't need to be stuck taking medication forever or maybe have the idea that they're incurable. Panic attacks&nbsp;are not&nbsp;incurable.&nbsp;They are&nbsp;not even a psychological illness. Somehow along the path, your panic alarm gets fouled up. It goes off for no reason, even though you are&nbsp;not in any danger. This is what is known as a panic or anxiety attack.So, can you cure panic attacks? YES! You have to be told how to fixed&nbsp;your panic alarm. It's that simple! 
The crucial thing to take note of is fear: the phobia of having a heart attack during panic attack, the dread of fainting during a panic attack,&nbsp;and the fear that you might really die of a panic attack. The cure to panic episodes is to stop this misguided fear. Your heart is pounding madly and your chest hurt, so you think its a heart attack, but&nbsp;it is not.&nbsp;This kind of heart activity is usually reserved for vigorous activity when you don't notice it as much. It's supposed to feel like this when you are&nbsp;in panic mode.You are feeling dizzy and feeble, you think your going to faint soon, but&nbsp;you are not.&nbsp;This sensation is due to hyperventilation, &nbsp;when you are respiring too swiftly and taking in too much oxygen. Having too much oxygen in your blood will interrupt its normal flow.&nbsp;Your brain instantly restricts blood flow to balance out the low carbon dioxide levels, resulting in light-headedness. As you can see, every symptom related to stress, panic and anxiety is caused by the body. You are&nbsp;not stuck with some mysterious illness. Similarly, your body cannot kill itself, and that's why you having nothing to fear. Panic attacks&nbsp;cannot kill you.Article Source: http://articlesland.info
Stress and Anxiety Management Tips]]></description>
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	<title>Hypnosis for Managing Stress</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Anxiety/Hypnosis-for-Managing-Stress.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:38:57 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Stress and Anxiety</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-and-Anxiety/Hypnosis-for-Managing-Stress.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Stress and anxiety are probably involved to some extent in a great many of the causes for&nbsp;individuals coming for hypnotherapy. Stress and anxiety are everywhere and can cause many problems if ignored. Relaxation exercises and other stress management techniques can be very helpful in overcoming the stress and anxiety caused by everyday life.
Due to a variety of socio-economic conditions, stress has now become more widely recognised by both individuals and employers. People in the UK lose several thousand days of work, not to mention great personal anxiety, that can lead to marital discord, depression, panic attacks and many other problems.
The Mind Works offer a comprehensive stress management programme for both individuals and corporate clients to both help with stress and anxiety in an immediate way and also to offer long term strategies.
Effective stress management takes in various therapeutic models and tailors a program to include not just dealing with the presenting stress, but also help&nbsp;individuals to avoid reaching high stress levels in the first place. Hypnosis can help with stress by:
Teaching relaxation techniques and relaxation exercises, thereby developing new ways to relax naturally (the relaxation response instead of the stress response). Positive thinking can help with panic attacks, anxiety and fears.
Creating an understanding of stress and the reasons for stress and addressing those stress factors on different levels gives an understanding of the individual nature of stress and creates positive outcomes for the future. Remember stress and anxiety can cause problems in very clever and unhelpful ways. 

Stress and Anxiety Management Tips
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	<title>Stress Management Tip - Nutrition and Stress</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/College-Stress/Stress-Management-Nutrition.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:32:07 -0600</pubDate>
<category>College Stress</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/College-Stress/Stress-Management-Nutrition.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[A lot of research today is showing that having a good nutritional diet has a direct impact on a person&rsquo;s ability to manage stress. This is especially true for college students because&nbsp;a body that is well nourished and healthy is far more resilient to stressful conditions, such as the stresses of college life,&nbsp;than a poorly nourished body.
In order to function properly, your body requires a certain amount of energy from carbohydrates, protein and fats. Like the term &ldquo;balanced diet&rdquo; suggests, there is no single food that provides all the essential nutrients. Rather you should be eating a variety of foods during the day to ensure that your body is receiving the necessary nutrients.
A healthy nutritious diet typically includes fresh fruit, whole grains, vegetables, lean meat and fish. Foods that contain high levels of fat, salt, sugar and alcohol should be taken in moderation. A healthy diet enhances the immune system and helps to maintain a reasonable energy level, &nbsp;which is essential for dealing with college-realted stress.
As certain foods are helpful in dealing with stress, other types of food are known to have a detrimental effect and quite possibly add extra levels of stress particularly when consumed in large amounts. For example, too much caffeine, i.e. coffee or tea, can increase anxiety and cause inability to sleep. Large amounts of alcohol may initially cause you to feel sleepy, but will ultimately disrupt sleep. Nicotine, while not a food, raises the heart rate and is quite simply bad for the body. Finally, too much sugar may give an initial burst of energy but can cause an energy dip as the naturally occurring insulin is generated within the body.
As you can see the impact of these food types not only add to your stress levels, but also can affect your ability to deal with college stress.
In short, if you follow the suggested tips below, your ability to deal with the stress of college &nbsp;will be maximized while the impact of any ongoing stress will be reduced. 

    Never start the day without breakfast. 
    Eat slowly rather than rushing. 
    Eat small, frequent meals and snacks. 
    Include a variety of foods in your diet. 
    Avoid saturated fats. 
    Minimize your intake of salt and sugar. 
    Drink alcohol in moderation. 
    Avoid excessive caffeine based drinks such as coffee and tea. 
    Drink plenty of water. 

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	<title>Stress Management Tip - Physical Exercise</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/College-Stress/College-Stress-Management.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:19:03 -0600</pubDate>
<category>College Stress</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/College-Stress/College-Stress-Management.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Any form of physical exercise can be a great way to reduce college stress. By regularly going to a gym, for a run, or competing in a team sport, an outlet is created that gives you the opportunity to focus on an enjoyable activity and literally forget about the day to day events that may contribute to college stress in your life.
By doing physical exercise, the body will inevitably get fitter and stronger. A fit person is less likely to get sick and tired especially during stressful periods, such as at exam time. As a person becomes fitter,&nbsp;his or her&nbsp;self-esteem and self worth will naturally increase. This also reduces the likelyhood of succumbing to college-related stress and in fact will typically&nbsp;create a better chance of coping with stressful situations.
Competitive forms of exercise can also help reduce college stress. Normally, competitive sports will require participants to regularly practice, set goals and work in a team.&nbsp;Competitors are also required to learn how to cope with stressful moments during a game, as well deal with both victory and defeat. Such activities emulate real college situations and therefore will help you to deal with the challenges that college life may bring you.
Some physical exercises which involve repetitive movement, such as running or riding a bike, can have a meditative effect, bringing on change in your the state of consciousness. Like any other form of meditation, the result is usually an increase in mental alertness and feeling calm, yet more alive.
On an &ldquo;etheric&rdquo; level, it is believed that physical exercise has a cleansing affect on the energy body. All the dirty energy that contributes to stress is automatically expelled during physical activity. The&nbsp;body will naturally replace this with fresh energy, &nbsp;freely available in the air and the earth.
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	<title>Mature Students Suffering from Stress</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/College-Stress/Mature-Students-Suffering-from-Stress.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:33:33 -0600</pubDate>
<category>College Stress</category>
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	<description><![CDATA[Most mature students who are studying for a professional qualification, or taking a course to improve their knowledge of a specialist area, do so while still continuing with their full-time employment, or running their own business. This inevitably adds another pressure to what is already a busy life, at work and at home. Most professionals take distance learning courses which they have to study at home, and this reduces the time that they can spend with their partner, or family, and reduces relaxation time away from the workplace. Added to this, most courses and qualifications have coursework, assignments, possibly examinations all with time deadlines and quality targets that must be achieved. As a result, the studying, in itself a very worthwhile personal development activity, can cause some students to suffer adversely from stress.What is stress? Is it always damaging? Stress can be very damaging and can be very difficult to deal with. Despite the overuse of the word by the many thousands who are not genuinely stressed, when a person is genuinely suffering from stress, it is a damaging and dangerous condition to be in, and action is essential. Stress is pressure caused by the effect on ourselves that we experience as a result of interacting with our environment, for example our workplace, colleagues, our family, our partner, social friends, and the activities that we are involved in, such as projects at work, social activities, and study activities. There can be positive and negative stress. Positive stress can help us to achieve our goals, complete a project successfully, make effective changes to our working or personal lives. The pressures of taking on new challenges and activities, but being successful in them, can be motivating and result in feelings of excitement and fulfilment.Negative stress is caused by the pressures around an individual becoming overwhelming, and then potentially damaging. Once the pressures become too intense, then the fear of failing and not coping add further pressures. This type of stress affects people in a negative, often harmful manner. Negative stress can result in our feeling frustration, resentment, anger, worthlessness, and despair, as well as causing a range of physical problems.Why does stress affect different people in different ways? It is now accepted that stress affects different people in different ways. Pressures that can become too much for some people can be absorbed relatively easily by others. The reasons for this are many. One is basic personality differences; where one person sees the pressure as a challenge to overcome,&nbsp;another will have doubts about their ability to cope, and see the same pressure as threatening. A related reason for this apparent difference is that the more positive person has been better trained, or had previous experience to draw on, while the negative person is facing this pressure for the first time, or has had a bad experience of it previously. Another reason is undoubtedly the complexity of the environment that surrounds each person. When an individual has most areas of their lives running smoothly, then the pressure from a single event or area of their lives can often be managed without difficulty. The same event can be overwhelming for an individual who has many difficult situations current in their lives, which are already putting them under considerable pressure, thereby&nbsp;ctearing&nbsp;the &quot;last straw&quot; effect.How can you tell if you are suffering from stress? That&rsquo;s sometimes difficult, but if you are feeling depressed prone to outbursts of anger, feeling helpless and unable to cope, hate the thought of going in to work, falling seriously behind with work or study deadlines, having difficulty concentrating, constantly in conflict with colleagues or your partner, eating too much, or drinking too much, experiencing headaches, muscular or chest pains, stomach troubles, losing interest in study or social activities that previously excited you finding that colleagues or family are expressing concern, the chances are that you are stressed. If you are, there is a strong chance also that you have other problems too, as the negative effects of stress can cause physical and mental problems to arise, if the stress is not addressed.What can&nbsp;a&nbsp;student&nbsp;do to manage stress? Stress can be effectively recognized and managed. The key is to understand our own signs of stress, select a few appropriate techniques to manage that stress, and then consistently using those techniques. One common characteristic of those who manage stress successfully and positively is that they all view stress, pressures, and complexity, as an area of their lives that have to be managed, and they take defensive action if the pressures build to unreasonable levels.If you are suffering from college stress, take action now!&nbsp;Don&rsquo;t wait a moment longer take action. Here are 25 ways in which you can manage college stress more successfully. They are not in order of priority, but are offered as suggestions that can help you to prevent stress from damaging your life. 

    
    Recognise that stress may be affecting you or could do in the future.
    
    
    Talk to someone you really trust face to face, or by telephone, letter, or even email.
    
    
    Take time out to play a sport, entertainment, or family activity with family or&nbsp;friends.
    
    
    Exercise on a regular basis as it helps manage and prevent stress becoming a problem.
    
    
    Eat a balanced diet whenever possible.
    
    
    Get plenty of sleep&nbsp;as it&nbsp;helps you stay fresh and gives you more energy during the day.
    
    
    Avoid self-medication with nicotine, alcohol, too much coffee or tranquilizers.
    
    
    Try doing something for others: coworker, friends, or family.
    
    
    Take one thing at a time when possible.
    
    
    If not, don&rsquo;t take on too much at the same time.
    
    
    Try to avoid unnecessary conflict, at work, home, and socially.
    
    
    Develop a hobby or interest as a counter-balance to stressful pressures.
    
    
    Don&rsquo;t let work or family commitments become an addiction.
    
    
    Don&rsquo;t feel guilty about taking time out for yourself - You are important, too!
    
    
    Don't put off relaxing - use a relaxation stress reduction technique daily.
    
    
    Know when you are tired and do something about it - Take a break.
    
    
    Don't be afraid to say &quot;No.&quot; You won&rsquo;t be respected if you say &quot;Yes&quot; but then make mistakes.
    
    
    Delegate responsibility and/or tasks where possible and appropriate.
    
    
    Manage your time better - you need a system that works for you, not against you.
    
    
    Plan ahead for workload and social activities to prevent too much pressure building up.
    
    
    Draw up an action plan to tackle the causes of your stress.
    
    
    Stress is not usually caused by a single, large, problem - break&nbsp;stress down into smaller pieces and deal with them individually.
    
    
    Set realistic targets - most stress causes are complex and cannot be eliminated immediately.
    
    
    Accept that some things you cannot change&nbsp; - accept them or change direction to avoid them.
    
    
    When you are successful in making positive changes - even small ones&nbsp; - reward yourself. Be pleased with your achievement. Be realistic about achieving perfection none of us will ever be perfect.
    

Mild, manageable, stress helps us to achieve our time deadlines, get to appointments on time, remember important dates, and get those last minute details worked out on a project that is due tomorrow, perform to the best of our ability, and produce high quality work. This is usually not what causes us to become &quot;distressed&quot; or to suffer negatively from stress. 

Sometimes, too, many minor stresses build up to create an unhealthy level of stress. What would individually be manageable, combines to become unmanageable and stressful. For example, more and more overlapping work or college activities, with impending time deadlines and high quality targets, can build up to the point where it is not possible for the&nbsp;student to manage it all. 

At other times, sadly, we will experience events that in themselves result in exceptionally high levels of stress - such as the loss of a loved one, losing a job, or the ending of a relationship. Adding a course of studies to the mix of pressures that affect mature, working professionals, can raise stress levels to a high or potentially damaging level. Being aware of the dangers of negative stress, and how to manage stress, is essential. It is one of the many skills that is required by individuals aiming for successful personal and career development.As the demands on professionals and students&nbsp;increase, in terms of performance in the workplace - as well as&nbsp;at college, having to show evidence of continuous personal development activity, and having to balance these with the demands of home and social lives. 

The key to success is to recognise that Stress can be a dangerous enemy, to learn about it, and to find ways to manage it effectively. By taking preventative action, using some of the recognised stress management techniques, stress can usually be managed successfully. 

Article Source: http://articlesland.info

More on College Stress 
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	<title>What you need to know about stress management</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/What-you-need-to-know-about-stress-management.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:37:21 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/What-you-need-to-know-about-stress-management.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Sometimes, people just need to learn how to feel relaxed. They can do this by approaching various techniques of stress management. One can apply such methods with self help audio books, which are easy to use. You do not have to lose precious time in the same manner you would normally do if you had to read a book. You can listen to these self help audio books when you are at home, at work, in your break time or even in your personal car, on the way home or on your way to work in the morning.If you have one of these self help audio books, all you have to do is to turn on your digital player, sit back, relax and enjoy it. Some of these books deal with stress management, a very important topic nowadays, because stress is probably the disease of the century. Everyone suffers from stress. Just think about it. Everyone has problems at work or at home. Nevertheless, of course, the biggest problem is the one of money, which is never enough.In addition, the narrator most likely has a very reassuring voice, which can help you relax at the same time that you are learning something about stress management. The books can indicate different techniques of self-relaxation. Moreover, they will be teaching you how to deal with your daily problems and stress factors, such as financial problems, pollution, noise and others.These self help audio books teach you what you have to do in order to face various difficult aspects of life. When we refer to stress management, we think about ways in which we can avoid getting a depression because, unfortunately, the world we live in does not offer us a very careless life. In addition, these books are very helpful because you do not need the help of a specialist to tell you what to do in order to get rid of stress. These books will tell you almost everything you need to know.They also help you save a lot of money, which is a very important aspect. Audio books are generally 40% cheaper than paper books. Therefore, it would be more economical if you start with self help audio books. Stress management is vital if you want to live a healthy life, with no problems. Well, actually, a life with no problems is a rather utopian perspective. Nevertheless, you can definitely improve the quality of your life through these new techniques, which can help you eliminate a great amount of stress from your daily responsibilities. Suddenly, no problems will seem so stressful. You will see that every problem has solutions, if you have a little bit of patience and calm. The point is not forgetting that solutions exist. When you miss such a perspective, you risk feeling overwhelmed by the problems that everyone has to deal on a daily basis. Management of stress is critical in order to remember how it is to feel relaxed. Give yourself a hand and purchase such books. You will definitely not regret your choice.
&nbsp;
Article Source: http://articlesland.info
&nbsp;
Those who want to learn something about stress management should try it through self help audio books. With these books, you can make your own way to feeling relaxed. ]]></description>
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	<title>Sensory Overload and Stress</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Sensory-Overload-and-Stress.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:18:41 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Information</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Sensory-Overload-and-Stress.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[As we move into the new millennium, we witness the effects of increasing environmental, economic, and psychological stress. Sensory overload is taxing the human system. The pressures upon all life on earth have reached unparalleled proportions.
Our bodies are subject to an onslaught of man-made stressors: crisscrossing fields of microwave, radio, television, and electronic transmissions, pollution, noise, and traffic, as well as the bombardments of information and advertising, and the requirements to produce more and more efficiently in the face of fierce economic competition. Add to that the threats of terrorism and war that have created a palpable level of world anxiety and we have a culture dominated by stress, tension, and fear. We are beings of energy vibrating at the edge of disintegration in a sea of over-stimulation.
How do we maintain our balance? What do we do when an intense stressor such as a lost job, divorce, or the death of a loved one lands on top of the load we bear? What if, to complicate matters, this load rests on a personal history of trauma?
One of the main reasons we have a hard time breaking out of this cycle is that we do not realize how deeply we are affected by stress. On the surface, we may speak of being in a time-crunch, feeling burned-out, or needing to get away. We joke about vibrating from all the pressure. When our stress is intensified, we feel that we are going to go ballistic. We blow off steam in more or less productive ways, from exercise to alcohol to road rage, but the underlying pattern of denial remains.
Psychologists describe our perpetual tension, or the fight/flight response, as a reaction to the relentless fronts of over-stimulation. This response pattern is characterized by high-frequency brain waves termed beta waves. We are functioning as if we are on high alert all of the time.
Moreover, medical scientists are discovering how this state of perpetual tension adversely affects our well-being. Stress creates chronic patterns of muscular tension. Muscular tension restricts the flow of blood, lymphatic fluid, and nerve impulses. Cells are deprived of oxygen and nutrients and unable to clear toxic substances. This leads to chronic pain, cellular toxicity, and decreased immune response.
On an emotional level, we experience chronic anxiety and reactive response patterns marked by inappropriate anger and projected blame and criticism. Mentally, we become locked in rigid thinking patterns marked by a defensive mindset governed by fear. Spiritually we resign ourselves to being victims of circumstances and isolate ourselves in a survival mode. While our problems are not new, the pace of modern life has multiplied their negative effects exponentially.
If that sounds overly grim, take heart. It can be motivation to shift our state of awareness. It can intensify the search for ways to live differently. In recent decades, a time-honored light has begun to shine through the dense, tangled lines of our modern networks. This light radiates through a variety of old and new refractions. We see the emergence of a multitude of holistic practices.
In support of these phenomena, research has shown that certain exercises for the mind and body reduce stress and produce deep relaxation via slower alpha-theta brain-wave frequencies. In the states affected by these exercises, such a slowdown simultaneously occurs in many of the body's systems. This slowdown produces integrating, synchronizing, and healing effects. The practice of these exercises can develop capacities within us that will enable us to handle the pressures of our lives.
Taking these exercises even further, we are able to develop senses and modes of perception that have been latent in human evolution, as we know it. We can develop the ability to perceive and cultivate ourselves as the energetic beings that we are on the most fundamental level.
As an entry point to the expansion of the conscious domain, biofeedback research shows that we can positively affect aspects of our lives that we thought were automatic and inaccessible, such as brain-wave frequencies, heart rate, respiration, and chronic muscle-tension, to name a few. Guided-imagery research has proven the power of imagination and visualization in overcoming disease and increasing wellness. Meditation research describes how, through the application of awareness and intention, we can positively affect the intricate pathways that serve as conductors for qi (&quot;chee&quot;), the universal vitalizing force that enlivens our bodies.
Dr. John Sarno, a physician who specializes in pain relief, has shown that emotion and consciousness play a large role in health and disease. He has coined the term Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) to describe a host of symptoms that are caused by stress, tension, and repressed rage. To show the direct relationship of consciousness to TMS he found that &quot;Awareness, insight, knowledge, and information were the magic medicines that would cure this disorder&quot; (The Mindbody Prescription, New York: Warner Books, Inc., 1998, p. xxi). This supports what physicists have been saying for many years, which is that consciousness and physical reality are interwoven; mind and matter are inseparable. In the context of the qigong meditation, we see how body, emotion, mind, and spirit form a feedback system that can be used to shift our state of being.
Tension-causing sensory overload is both our most predominant problem and our window of opportunity. It is through a thorough understanding of our stress that we will find a new way. When we uncover the source of stress and take action to release this tension, we open to new possibilities. We recover and develop our fuller sensitivities and feelings of vitality.
These are not the mists of fantasy or the mere ear tickle of sweet sounding words. This is a well-mapped path. The Chinese have used Qigong Meditation as a powerful tool for self-development for thousands of years. You can receive a free introduction to this method and discover a step-by-step program of qigong meditation in my &quot;LEARN QIGONG MEDITATION&quot; course available from http://www.learnqigongmeditation.com]]></description>
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	<title>Goal Setting Cuts Stress in Your Life</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Goal-Setting-Cuts-Stress-in-Your-Life.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:18:18 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Information</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Goal-Setting-Cuts-Stress-in-Your-Life.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Just how many of us really set realistic goals in our life? Goal setting is a good idea for any person. They could cut out being so disorganized in their life. When any one sets daily goals they quickly realize that their day would run smoothly and not have as many mishaps that makes you have a lot of stress from something not going just right and running out of time try to get it done.
When some set goals in their life it might not be because they want to it may just be because they have to, so they do not have lots of chaos in their life. This group of people may even need to write down when they are to arrive at the grocery store to do the shopping and even how long it is to take in the store. Some people just need that organization in their life to live freely and peacefully.
When you set goals for the day and have them out for everyone too see them you will notice that if you have kids they will soon start to fallow them, with a little help. After a while you would end up noticing that the kids have set their own goals that they would like to achieve in their daily life.
One example is that they set the time to get up, brush their teeth, get a bath for bed, and even go to bed. That does not include the time at school and any other chores or tasks that they would want to put in there on their own.
Really every one needs to set a life goal and work hard to achieve the goals that you set for yourself or your family.
One thing that you need to think about when you set the goals in your life is that you need to make sure that you do not set goals that are completely out of reach and are too hard for you to accomplish. Some of the goals that an adult could set for himself or herself are better schooling, better position in the work force, or even working toward a promotion.]]></description>
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	<title>Unstopped Stress Shortens Your Life Span</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Unstopped-Stress-Shortens-Your-Life-Span.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:17:12 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Information</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Unstopped-Stress-Shortens-Your-Life-Span.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[A threat to your life or safety triggers a primal physical response from the body, leaving you breathless, heart pounding, and mind racing. From deep within your brain, a chemical signal speeds stress hormones through the bloodstream, priming your body to be alert and ready to escape danger. Concentration becomes more focused, reaction time faster, and strength and agility increase. When the stressful situation ends, hormonal signals switch off the stress response and the body returns to normal.
But in our modern society, stress doesn&rsquo;t always let up. Many of us now harbor anxiety and worry about daily events and relationships. Stress hormones continue to wash through the system in high levels, never leaving the blood and tissues. And so, the stress response that once gave ancient people the speed and endurance to escape life-threatening dangers runs constantly in many modern people and never shuts down.
Research now shows that such long-term activation of the stress system can have a hazardous, even lethal effect on the body. The National Institute of Health (NIH) found that 80 to 90 percent of all illnesses in today&rsquo;s Western society are caused by stress, either directly or indirectly. Continuous stress increases risk of obesity, heart disease, depression, and a variety of other illnesses.
As many of us know, stress circuit influences the stomach and intestines and can result in digestive problems. Also, continual, high levels of stress hormone (cortisol) can increase appetite and lead to weight gain. Overeating at night is also common among people who are under stress. To another extreme, a continuously overstressed person can lose his appetite. Other symptoms of this form of chronic stress response are anxiety, loss of sex drive, rapid heart beat, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. In addition to suppressing the reproductive system at various levels, stress also suppresses the immune system, making you more vulnerable to colds and flu, fatigue and infections.
Chronic stress should not be taken lightly or accepted as a fact of life, because it leads to a variety of serious health problems. Anyone who suffers from chronic stress needs to take steps to alleviate it.
Acupressure is one of the powerful self-treatment approaches that relieve stress effectively, but easily. Because the acupressure techniques are simple and don&rsquo;t need any special equipment or space, they can be easily applied when ever you have a moment of free time. Some of the techniques are such that you can apply them even while waiting for a lift or queuing.
One of the effective acupressure points calming stress levels is called the Inner Gate. This specific point is on your wrist and it is easy to treat by applying pressure with your fingertip while concentrating on your breathing.
To use this stress relieving technique, first locate this acupressure point on the inside of your wrist. Measure three finger widths up your arm, from the wrist line. Use your thumb to locate the point in the hollow between the two bones and in the middle of the tendons. A slight soreness will let you know you have found the right location. Press the point firmly while you breathe out, and release pressure as you breathe in, repeating eight times on each wrist.
The simplicity of this technique, an unobtrusive, easy to reach pressure point, means this is a method of stress reduction you can use virtually anywhere, at any time: sitting in traffic, standing in line or waiting for an appointment. Try to remain aware of how your mind and body are functioning throughout the day, and when signs of stress appear, take action to alleviate your discomfort and prevent further strain.
Stress prevents us from achieving our potential, and from experiencing a feeling of contentment and well-being. Take steps to prevent this disruption in your life by becoming more in tune with your body&rsquo;s needs, and its integral connection to your state of mind.
Acupressure is useful in treating a wide variety of ailments, drawing on ancient eastern approaches to medicine. A drug-free intervention, acupressure is an excellent alternative to painkillers which can lead to addiction and other harmful side effects. It is also a practical and convenient method of self-treatment that doesn&rsquo;t require countless office visits to see a practitioner. It is always a good idea to consult with a professional to determine the best approach for you, and learn proper technique, but from then on your knowledge is something you take with you.
Stress reduction is a preventative approach to health care, and will yield many benefits over the long term. In addition to feeling better now, you reduce your risk of developing stress related conditions in the future. Take advantage of acupressure&rsquo;s non-invasive approach to creating wellness and live your life more fully, freeing yourself from stress and strain.]]></description>
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	<title>Use Aromatherapy To Combat Stress</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Use-Aromatherapy-To-Combat-Stress.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:16:04 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Information</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Use-Aromatherapy-To-Combat-Stress.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[The demands of life today leave people everywhere plagued by stress. From hectic work schedules, a lack of sleep, reduced nutrients in diets, not drinking enough water, and the pressures of juggling family, life, and work, stress and stress related disorders are widespread.
Research proves just how serious stress is to the human body and how it&rsquo;s the cause of numerous diseases. Stress is one of the main causes of heart ailments and those who have suffered heart attacks, the recommendation is to remove stress from their lives and embrace a &ldquo;relaxed and more peaceful&rdquo; existence.
Although this advice sounds simple, for the majority of people, this guidance is often harder to obtain than it seems. Removing stress sometimes requires hard work, which often induces stress in itself. Life doesn&rsquo;t always offer us the advantages of removing all stress factors. If for example, it&rsquo;s your boss or co-worker that is causing stress, one solution would be to change jobs, but not everyone has the option to change jobs at whim.
It could be a hard knock such as divorce that triggers the deep-rooted stress. This can&rsquo;t be removed easily and requires going through the process of grief, and emotional and spiritual healing. The good news is we don&rsquo;t have to put up with these causes of stress and its effects, there is a way out. There are lots of steps open to you that can decrease the effects of stress in your life and help regain your sense of control and strength while bringing calm and tranquility.
A well balanced diet and reducing the amount of heavily processed and highly sweetened foods is one of the basic ways to reduce stress. These &ldquo;Comfort Foods&rdquo; such as chocolate, candy, and fried greasy meals may bring temporary relief, but fill the body with waste which stresses your body internally. Now your stress is both inside your body and from the outside world. Now is the time to cleanse your body, and be nourished with plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, along with drinking plenty of water. By enhancing your immune system you&rsquo;ll have the health and vitality needed to deal with the stress and its root case, and avoid illness, which is often the result of an overly stressed system.
Dealing with stress is helped by bringing peace to your mind, body and spirit with the use of meditation and prayer. Using aromatherapy candles during peaceful times, whether meditating, praying, or simply reading a favorite book can do wonders for your sense of well-being. Some herbal scents that are known for reducing stress and anxiety include Lavender, Lemon, Rose, Chamomile, Black Cohosh, Hops, Passionflower, and Valerian. Set aside 15 minutes a day, light your aromatherapy candles and enjoy the moment.
These same herbal scents are available as essential oils and you can appreciate the aromatherapy benefits by adding a few drops of the oil to a hot bath, then lay back, relax and soak the moment.
Take the first step today towards dealing with your stress and get yourself some aromatherpay candles and oils, but most importantly, take the time to use and benefit from them.]]></description>
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	<title>The Key To Reducing Stress Is Based On Your Nutritional Intake</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/The-Key-To-Reducing-Stress-Is-Based-On-Your-Nutritional-Intake.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:15:25 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Information</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/The-Key-To-Reducing-Stress-Is-Based-On-Your-Nutritional-Intake.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[As I'm sure you well know, stress somehow manages to affect all of us to some degree and for good reason. On a daily basis our lives are filled with situations that create tension. Many of these tense moments come from obligations to our family, friends, job and the many things that keep us busy throughout a normal day in out lives. As you can imagine, this buildup of stress can be harmful to your health unless you find a way to relieve it. Doing so will allow you to lead a more relaxed and healthier lifestyle full of vigor and energy. One way to accomplish this and reduce your stress levels is through the use of nutrition, such as vitamins and minerals.
One of the easiest ways to get the nutrition you need to help lower your stress levels is through the food you consume. The key to success here is to eat a variety of meals that subscribe to a well balanced diet. Not only will this help to reduce your stress levels but it will also have you felling better. You can also expand upon this stress relief and feeling better diet by throwing in some daily exercise. It has been proven that exercising daily while consuming a well balanced diet high in nutrition will help to reduce stress in your busy life.
A nutritious diet that is formulated to combat stress needs to consist of whole grains, which are high in vitamin B. This will have the effect of slowing the sugar substances that run throughout your blood. You will want to combine this with a diet consisting of fewer carbohydrates and saturated fats as they contain an above average amount of energy and sugar levels.
As many bodybuilders already know a diet high in protein can be very beneficial in meeting your nutritional needs in order to reduce stress. Protein can be found in abundance in food such as yogurt and fish. Throw in some fruit and salad and your body will start to appreciate the food it's consuming and you will practically start to feel your stress levels decrease and ultimately vanish.
Although many people associate snacks with overweight conditions the truth is they provide an additional way to help lower your stress. A nutritious snack will provide the energy boost needed throughout the day allowing you to focus on the problems at hand and thereby eliminate any stress before it gets out of control. Snacks have also been reported to promote a calming effect to take place that allows your body to effectively handle any stress that appears as a result of your busy day. The main point to remember here is that your snacks consist of healthy foods full of nutrition, vitamins and minerals.
As you can see taking the time to plan a proper diet that is full nutritious meals will provide your body with the necessary nutrients needed to function at a higher level. Adding the proper nutrition to your diet will allow you to live a healthier life and empower you with the necessary energy levels to handle stress and in many cases actually lower or even eliminate any stress that you may have been feeling.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress and Keeping a Stress Diary</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Stress-and-Keeping-a-Stress-Diary.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:14:39 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Information</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Stress-and-Keeping-a-Stress-Diary.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[The first question most people usually want to know is &hellip;how can I eliminate stress? But stress is a fact of life&hellip;it's been around since the first two people lived on earth. Stress is the physical and emotional reaction our bodies have to a changing environment and it can create both positive and negative effects.
Stress, in itself, is not always bad. Positive stress is what moves us to action, what makes us feel alive. It creates anticipation and excitement in our lives. &quot;Dis&quot;stress can cause &quot;dis&quot;ease. Take a violin for example, too little stress makes it sound dull and raspy, too much stress can make it sound shrill or even break the strings, but just the right amount of stress creates beautiful music. With people, too little stress can act as a depressant, leaving us feeling bored or dejected; on the other hand, too much stress can leave us feeling out of control or &quot;tied up in knots&quot;. Stress frequently shows up as muscle tension, headaches, migraines, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, ulcers, upset stomach, rashes and sexual dysfunction, among many others symptoms. Chronic stress can have serious effects on your health such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
What we really need to do is find our optimal level of stress, the point at which we're motivated and excited about life but not overwhelmed. But before we can manage our stress to our optimal level, we have to find out what our stressors (sources of stress) are and how they affect us&hellip;good or bad. Do you know what causes you stress? You might be surprised!
Every person is unique and reacts differently to each event. Since each person reacts differently to different stressors (sources of stress), the best way to find your stress factors is to chronicle them. Keep a diary of what's going on during your day and how it makes it you feel.
Keeping a stress diary will help you gain insight into how you react to stress. It will allow you to better channel your energy into performing as you choose to and not in reaction to the unidentified stress that has you by the throat. Your diary will help you understand:

    what causes your stress in more detail 
    level of stress that you operate at most efficiently 
    how do you react to stress 
    are your reactions appropriate and useful 

Include the following information, so you can best analyze your stress:

    Date and time of each entry 
    How do you feel right now? On a scale of 1 - 10 with 1 being miserable and 10 being ecstatic 
    Record how effective you feel you are on a scale of 1 - 10 with 1 being very ineffective and 10 being highly effective 
    How stressed out do you feel? On a scale of 1 - 10 with 1 being in a state of utter peace and 10 feeling like you are crawling out of your skin 
    What stress symptom do you feel? 
    How did you handle the stress? 

Make daily entries into your diary for a reasonable amount time. After about 4 weeks, you should be able to start seeing a pattern. Some of your behaviors, which are provoked by stress, will be repeated on a regular basis. Make a list of those behaviors that you see most often. These will be the stressors in your daily life you will want to learn to control first.
Next, look at the causes of these obvious stressors. Also, look at how well you managed them on a day-by-day basis. When you can identify areas where you can learn to manage your stress responses better, list those.
List all of the every day events of your life that cause you stress and list how these events made you feel.
By now you can see the contrast in what events cause you the most stress compared to what events cause you the least. You can now see at what stress level you can function best. Your goal now will be to lessen the stress in your life by managing how you deal with stressful situations and you can do this by responding to the stress in your life in a more proactive/positive manner.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress and the Self</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Stress-and-the-Self.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:13:00 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Information</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Stress-and-the-Self.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[We are all made up of many layers - the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Each of the layers needs to be given as much respect and attention as the others. Traditionally, we have given more attention to the physical aspect, reflecting on our physicality and the physical world. Our mental layer developed aggressively over the decades and we began to question, intellectually reflect and try to understand ourselves and this world. The emotional part of us has not been given as much consideration. We have frustrated its development or evolution by continually suppressing certain emotions. And we have not really given much thought to our spiritual self, with many of us never taking time for inner reflection.
To be fully healthy means to be in perfect balance in every layer of the person. When we are unhealthy in any area of ourselves, the part that needs attention &lsquo;cries out&rsquo; in the form of a message. When our physical body is out of balance and in need of attention the message is easily recognized. When we let ourselves get run down, for instance, parts of our physical body stop functioning properly i.e. a physical message. When our mental layer needs attention the brain gives us a mental message most commonly recognised as a feeling or state many refer to as stress. So stress is just a message that the brain needs attention &ndash; usually a rest. The emotional body also gives us messages when it needs attention - emotional messages. When we feel an emotion coming on the natural and healthy thing to do is to fully experience it. But many of us suppress certain emotions like sadness or anger because we are scared to fully feel it. Some of us don&rsquo;t even allow ourselves to experience more appealing emotions like happiness or pride. We judge ourselves not worthy or feel guilty or are simply too busy to stop for the experience.
Emotions not experienced fully are suppressed and, because emotions are energy, the energy lodges somewhere deep in the body. Then at some stage we get a message from our emotional self that it needs attention. So emotional breakdown can be a message from the emotional body that it needs all of the suppressed emotions to be fully experienced. Moving to the Spiritual body - we all have moments when we reflect on the greater reality of life. It can occur when we witness a sunset and see it in all its majesty and glory or when we spontaneously sense a very real connection to something much larger - a vastness. It can happen when we take a few moments to reflect within ourselves or in the presence of a moment of pure love, like when a baby is born or when your child smiles and tells you &ldquo;I love you&rdquo;.
What is it that all of these experiences have in common? They all refer to moments when we are connected to our Source, however you personally define this Source. So these experiences are messages from our spiritual selves to pay attention to our spirituality within us and within everything around us. As you move through the levels from the physical to the spiritual the messages become more difficult to recognise. This is because we are more focused in the physical spectrum and our ability to sense the messages weakens as we move along the spectrum into the other layers.
So what does all of this mean? It means simply that we should listen to and be guided by ourselves. If you feel physically drained or tired, physically rest. If you feel mentally challenged or stressed, relax your mind. If you are presented with an emotion, experience it fully. If you experience a moment of connection to something greater, accept and experience it without having to physically sense it, mentally understand it or emotionally feel it. Just allow it to present itself in whatever form and don&rsquo;t try to judge or label or define the experience. Living is all about experiencing life fully in every moment, in every situation at every level. Life is to be enjoyed and loved.]]></description>
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<item>
	<title>Reduce Stress By Exercising Daily</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Reduce-Stress-By-Exercising-Daily.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:12:26 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Information</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Reduce-Stress-By-Exercising-Daily.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Exercise is one of the easiest ways to reduce stress. Exercise assists your cardiovascular system and blood circulation. By performing exercises consistently your overall health, including sugar levels will remain normal.
Exercise is good for mental growth. Exercise makes our mind calm and develops memory. It helps increase self-confidence and moulds our personality.
There are various forms of exercises such as aerobic as well as anaerobic exercises, which provide various benefits. Aerobic exercises are running, swimming, cycling and walking. They aim to burn your excess calories and also increase your energy. When you are following these exercises you inhale a lot of fresh oxygen. In this way they are beneficial to the cardiovascular system and keep the blood circulation process intact. If you follow a regular diet pattern and exercise schedule then you will surely burn a lot of calories. In order to get complete benefit, you must aim to exercise for about 3 to 5 times a week. Anaerobic exercises builds your muscles and they are classified into two categories:
They are Isotonics and Isometric exercises.
Isotonic exercises involve objects that can be lifted such as weight lifting. It tones your muscles, makes the muscle fiber stronger, prevents injuries and also moulds your muscles. In Isometric exercises you try to push a stationery object, which in turn develops your muscles.
Both the exercise types are equally important because they build your muscles strong as well as lean.
Plan exercises, which give you enjoyment as well as the above benefits. At first, plan for a short duration and then start off with a longer workout session.]]></description>
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	<title>Nature Wallpapers - Best Stress Busters</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Nature-Wallpapers---Best-Stress-Busters.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:10:36 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Information</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress/Nature-Wallpapers---Best-Stress-Busters.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[All city dwellers miss the enchanting nature. The waterfalls, the rivers, the lovely flower fields, the mountain ranges, these all are a treat for the tired eyes. After we go to nature, we feel very peaceful and calm. Our disturbances of mind slow down. Today, most of the stressed workers are looking for anti stress treatments. What can be a better stress buster than nature?
How Nature wallpapers are great stress busters - Our eyes, ears, touch and other senses directly affect our mood. When we view a lovely sight, our mind becomes positive and the state of the mind changes. Try this experiment. Watch some very dirty sight and note the state of your mind. Now watch a beautiful sight and note the change in your state. You will find a sudden change for the better. Nature wallpapers can help us bring these changes fast.
Nature Wallpapers are full of variety- you will get a huge variety in nature wallpapers. You will get scenes of beaches, clouds, countryside, deserts, flowers, lakes &amp; seas, landscapes, mountains, panoramas, plants &amp; trees, rivers &amp; streams, sunsets, and waterfalls. In each of these topics, you will get to choose from dozens of wallpapers. Imagine of the variety available?
Sizes - You will get free nature wallpapers in sizes suitable for most of the monitor sizes. Download one that fits your monitor.
Cost - Some websites offer free nature wallpapers while most of the websites charge money. Select from free websites. You will get a great collection free.
Precautions while downloading - Avoid adware and spyware. Don&rsquo;t download exe. files. Download lightweight wallpapers and enjoy. Nature wallpapers area lovely sight to watch. You can also send your selection to your friends and family. Enjoy with these free downloads.]]></description>
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<item>
	<title>10 Symptoms of Workplace Stress</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Work-Stress/10-Symptoms-of-Workplace-Stress.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:09:36 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Work Stress</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Work-Stress/10-Symptoms-of-Workplace-Stress.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[It is no secret that stress and related disorders are the most frequent cause of employee disability (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). As far back as 1992, a United Nations report called job stress a &quot;world wide epidemic.
Control of workplace stress is a leadership responsibility. Good leaders who recognize the symptoms of stress can control situations to create more desirable workplaces and to improve both productivity and the bottom line.
Corporate leaders who have served in the military recognize employee stress when they observe symptoms such as:
1 Anxiety
2 Indecisiveness
3 Irritability
4 Complaining
5 Forgetfulness
6 Loss of self confidence
7 Argumentativeness
8 Insomnia
9 Rapid emotional shifts
10 Physical exhaustion
Symptoms such as these cost companies billions of dollars each year in health care costs, absenteeism, accidents, quality control, personnel turnover, and various interpersonal relationship problems.
Some managers mistakenly try to control stressful problems by increasing demands and supervising details. Increased urgency and focus on details typically generates even more stress. The problems shift from slight distractions, such as back pain, headaches, and inattention, to more drastic reactions such as absenteeism and medical problems, both good indicators that stress levels need attention.
Just as in the Army, most business leaders must be taught to manage stress and to observe for negative stress reactions. All managers need to understand the importance of positive stress in maximizing accuracy and productivity. And they need to know how to control the negative stress for the benefit of those involved and the bottom line.
If you don't have qualified staff in your company, outside consultants and trainers can help you evaluate current stress levels and train everyone involved. Remember, stress control is a leadership responsibility.]]></description>
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	<title>Job Stress - What Can You Do About It?</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Work-Stress/Job-Stress-What-Can-You-Do-About-It.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:07:52 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Work Stress</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Work-Stress/Job-Stress-What-Can-You-Do-About-It.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Today&rsquo;s workforce faces a multitude of pressures: deadlines, office politics, nonproductive meetings, conflict, job ambiguity, miscommunication, increased workload, inadequate resources, customer complaints and long hours. . . to name just a few. On-the-job stress can be quite costly, too, because it often results in increased absenteeism, reduced efficiency, low morale, reduced effectiveness, and high staff turnover.
Researchers have discovered that since 1965 the overall stress levels in the U.S. have increased nearly 50%, and it is estimated that 75-90% of all office visits to health care professionals are for stress-related symptoms and disorders.
We know that a certain level of stress can be good. Stress actually improves performance by sharpening concentration, focusing attention and increasing motivation; however, when the threshold of optimum stress is crossed it can trigger a very negative domino effect. High levels of stress not only compromise your work performance, productivity and efficiency, but more importantly, it can seriously impact your health.
Common physical symptoms of stress include headaches, migraines, insomnia, back and neck aches, nausea, twitching, appetite changes and sweating. The long-term effects of stress can include heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, gastrointestinal problems and even cancer.
In addition to the physical symptoms, stress can also cause serious psychological and emotional problems such as mood swings, poor concentration, anxiety, irritability, anger, depression, forgetfulness, pessimism, confusion and self-doubt.
No doubt we all agree that it is important to effectively manage our stress, but how can we do it? Here are a few tips that will help you to keep your stress low and your performance level high.
Control your time. When you are over-committed, something has to give. Take time to identify your most important responsibilities or tasks and focus on them first. Avoid taking on assignments just to please others or to look good. Successful time management involves your ability to control the activities in your life &ndash; and the better you are at it, the less stress you will experience.
Minimize procrastination. Putting off important responsibilities breeds stress. Procrastination typically occurs for three reasons: You aren&rsquo;t sure how to do the task, you can&rsquo;t decide how to approach it, and/or you don&rsquo;t particularly enjoy doing what you have to do. Avoid waiting until the last minute to complete jobs by breaking down a large project into as many small, manageable, &ldquo;instant&rdquo; tasks as possible. Write these mini-projects on a piece of paper and then include several of them on your daily To Do List. When you complete one of the tasks, treat yourself to a nice reward. Before you know it, the project will be done and you will feel energized as a result.
Take time out for yourself. The busyness of work life and constant interaction with others can create a very legitimate need for alone time. Making time in your schedule for solitude can be a big challenge, but make it a priority to set aside &quot;down&quot; or &quot;quiet&quot; time just like you schedule business meetings and lunch appointments. During this time, give yourself permission to take a mini vacation. Find a quite place to relax where you won&rsquo;t be interrupted and then mentally transfer yourself to a quiet and beautiful setting. Imagine taking a leisurely walk on the beach or dangling your feet in the cool waters of a lazy mountain stream. As you sense the warm sun on your face and the cool breeze in the air, you will feel the stress and worries of the day slowly drift away.
Practice healthy self-talk. You feel what you think. Negative, critical and hopeless thinking produces fear, anger, worry and stress. Practice maintaining a positive mental attitude about yourself, your work and those around you. Remember, you do have choices in life and you can change and control many of the things that you are dissatisfied with if you are willing to set your mind to it.
Reconsider all meetings. Unproductive meetings are among the worse time wasters in businesses today. Meetings should only be held when interaction is required, and only those directly involved or affected should be required to attend. Productive meetings serve an essential purpose &ndash; to share important information and/or to solve critical problems. But unnecessary meetings just delay the completion of important objectives, which ultimately results in more pressure and stress. A study quoted in The Wall Street Journal reported that if American managers started and ended their meetings on time and followed an agenda they could save 80% of the time they currently waste in meetings!
Control your diet. If you put low octane fuel in your car your engine will still run, but not at top performance level. The same principle is true for your mind and body. If you regularly consume refined sugar, large amounts of caffeine, and foods high in fat &ndash; or if you skip meals &ndash; you can still function, but with much less efficiency. A healthy diet is key to maintaining good concentration, a high level of energy and a healthy outlook on life.
Get your heart pumping. Physical activity is one of the best stress busters around. A brisk walk, game of tennis, or aerobics class helps you let off steam and distracts you from your source of stress. Exercise can also boost your immune system and help you to fight off illnesses that stress can cause.
Stop mulling it over &ndash; take action. If you're overloaded with worries, sit down with a pen and paper and spend 15 minutes writing down your concerns and potential solutions to the problems. By the time you finish, you will realize that you don&rsquo;t feel as worried because you are now better prepared to take action.
Recommended Daily Habits
&bull; Set realistic goals and expectations for yourself&bull; Do something nice for someone&bull; Share a laugh or a word of encouragement with someone you like&bull; Make a list of things you are most grateful for&bull; Take a leisurely bath or hot shower &bull; Rest your eyes for 15 to 30 minutes without interruption&bull; Relax outdoors, enjoying nature&bull; Revisit your accomplishments - even the smallest ones &bull; Listen to soothing music&bull; Get up 15 minutes early to avoid having to rush &bull; Watch a funny movie or television program&bull; Spend 30 minutes reading a good book&bull; Take a walk around the building
If you are an employer, be aware of what your company or organization can do to help your employees minimize stress in the workplace. Here are just a few things to consider:
&bull; Provide a safe and comfortable environment in which to work&bull; Provide a workplace free from all forms of harassment &bull; Make sure adequate resources are provided to complete assignments&bull; Discourage excessive work hours over an extended period of time&bull; Develop management practices based on equality of treatment &bull; Provide reasonable workload allocation and feedback on performance&bull; Encourage staff to maintain and improve their physical and psychological health&bull; Strive to ensure good communication throughout the organization &bull; Provide information and training to enable staff to develop their skills and maximize their contribution to the business
Managing stress in the workplace &ndash; or anywhere else in life, for that matter &ndash; is really a question of balance. If your work is very busy, hectic or noisy, balance it with quiet times and relaxing activities. If your job is mentally demanding or requires long periods of concentration, balance it with play and physical activity. Eat enough but not too much. Enjoy time with family and friends, offset with periods of solitude and reflection. The key is recognizing the value of activities that aren&rsquo;t related to your work and giving them adequate priority in your daily calendar.
And there&rsquo;s one more thing to consider: If keeping your life in balance just isn&rsquo;t enough to relieve your stress, you may be wise to consider meeting with a coach or counselor to help you discover if your work stress is an indication that you should pursue another job or even another career altogether. Listen to your stress &ndash; it might be trying to tell you something!]]></description>
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	<title>Understanding Job Stress and How To Deal With It</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Work-Stress/Understanding-Job-Stress-and-How-To-Deal-With-It.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 19:07:06 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Work Stress</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Work-Stress/Understanding-Job-Stress-and-How-To-Deal-With-It.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Among the most common types of stress is good old-fashioned job stress and it is easy to understand why. With the economic slow-down of the last few years, employers are trying to squeeze more and more work out of their employees in order to keep their costs low and their production high. As well, with the concerns over lay-offs and downsizing, it seems that overwork is no cure for concerns about job security. Thus, the long hours, low pay, and tenuous nature of employment combine to create a situation where there is nothing you can count on except stress itself. Thus, job stress just keeps piling up until there doesn't seem to be any way out.
Unfortunately, this is all too often the case with workers and people need to learn how to manage work stress. Otherwise, you will simply drown yourself in worry and drive yourself batty with concern over your workload and your job security.
The first thing to remember about job stress is that it really does not help you get work done. In fact, too much stress can actually prevent you from getting through your projects. Though every worker can point to a time when the chips were down and they rose to challenge, the fact is that long-term stress does not help people focus. Yes, short-term bursts of stress can heighten your ability to focus, but any period of stress that lasts longer than a day or even a few hours deteriorates your ability to focus. This is because the very hormones that heighten focus over a short period of time eventually degrade concentration and make you unable to keep your mind on the task at hand. Needless to say, this does not help you in the workplace.
One of the best ways to manage workplace stress is to take a break every so often. This means that you should give yourself a short break about every fifteen minutes or so and avail yourself of a break of a few minutes about every hour.
If you have the self-awareness to notice that you are not able to focus completely, you should give your eyes a break and take a quick stretch break in your chair. These breaks should be taken about every fifteen minutes, as they will allow your brain to recover a little bit of energy and allow you to return to the task at hand.
Additionally, every hour, stand up and walk away from your desk. This break should consist of some task not related to work or your desk and it is vital for maintaining concentration and reducing job stress. Go get a soft drink, take a restroom break, or simply walk the halls for about 3-5 minutes. This will not only give your body a break, it will provide your mind with an opportunity to relax. It is the simple act of doing something mindless that helps your mind. Just like muscles, the brain needs a rest and recovery period in order to get its strength back. Remember, you cannot remain completely focused forever, just like you cannot sprint forever.
If you do not take a break, your mind will start taking its own breaks. This is otherwise known as &quot;having your mind wander.&quot; This is a tremendously frustrating phenomenon and it can create severe job stress. You cannot focus, so you cannot get your work done, so you try to focus, which is causing your mind to wander simply because it has been focusing for so long. Thus, you become more frustrated with yourself and your stress increases. This is an endless spiral and, if you do not deliberately escape it, job stress will consume you until the only thing you can think about is your inability to think about anything other than your inability to get work done.
For those who are in the throes of job stress already and there does not seem to be any way to get out of it, it is time to give yourself a complete break. The best break is, of course, to go home and leave your work behind. However, this is not always feasible and, instead, you need some way to give yourself a break while not leaving your desk.
The best method for relieving job stress at your desk is to close your eyes and take deep breaths. The key to this is to avoid thinking about work while you are doing this breathing exercise. In fact, you should simply concentrate on your breathing. In essence, this is a form of meditation and it is a very good way to refresh your brainpower. This is because, when you are thinking about your breathing, you are thinking about almost nothing at all. After all, you breathe all the time and it comes pretty naturally. Thus, by concentrating on a process that is generally automatic, your mind will give itself a much-needed rest. In fact, some people are so effective at this form of meditation that they receive something akin to concentrated sleep. Though it takes a great deal of practice to achieve this much relaxation from meditation, even simple meditation can help you recover from job stress.
The most important thing to remember about job stress is to simply not worry about job stress. In fact, worrying about job stress will actually create a certain about of stress all its own. Thus, if you simply concentrate on your work, give yourself a break every so often, and give yourself a complete break when you need it, job stress does not need to be a concern.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Management by Relaxation</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-by-Relaxation.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:32:14 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Management</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-by-Relaxation.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[The method for stress management which I am going to show you below is actually a combination of two methods; a regular deep breathing exercise and Jacobsen's Progressive. Both are proven relaxation exercises and by combining them they function even better. These relaxation techniques can help you reduce tension in your muscles as well as manage the effects of the fight-or-flight response on your body - link when you feel you are about to get overwhelmed by panic. In a situation where you have to perform by thinking clearly under pressure, this relaxing exercise is really great. Here is what you do:

    Sit down comfortably in a way that enables you to relax. 
    While you focus your body on relaxation take a series (10, 20 or even more) of deep breaths. For each breath you take, try to relax your body even more. 
    Tense up the muscles of both your hands maximally, make a fist and hold this tension for five seconds. 
    From the state of maximum tension, relax your hand's muscles to the state they were in before you tensed them. 
    Focus on your hand muscles and try to relax them even further so that you are as relaxed as possible. 
    Repeat step 3 to 5 but instead of your hands muscles, now concentrate on the following parts of your body in sequenze: your feet, your legs and tighs, your arms, your breast and stomach, your back and finally your neck and head's muscles. 

The idea is that you'll probably be able to relax your muscles more by tensing them first, than you would if you just relaxed your muscles directly. You can also repeat the deep breathing steps in between the tensing / relaxation of the muscles of your different body parts.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Management for the Holiday Traveler</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-for-the-Holiday-Traveler.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:24:23 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Management</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-for-the-Holiday-Traveler.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[I'm flying in a few days from California to Michigan. Altogether, door to door, it will be twelve hours worth of travel. I've seen the TV news in the past about the long lines and rude people.
This year I'm going to be prepared! It's not going to ruin my holiday. This year I know what to expect and how to handle it.
Flight.I fly at least eight times per year for my job and I admit the first few times were nerve wracking. I remember my first flight in the 80's and I was almost panicking. Now I take a window seat and meditate on how beautiful the world is from 3000 feet. I'm not religious but it's hard to deny your spirituality when viewing something so beautiful.
Meditation.I have a ritual that I use to cope and it may help you as well. The previous meditation is part of it. I sit quietly and feel the plane leaving ground. I concentrate on the sensations. I experience the butterflies in my stomach instead of fighting it. I wait for the familiar feeling of getting pushed back in my seat from the pressure of the plane increasing speed. I watch the ground getting farther and farther away. It's exhilirating!
Prayer.I'm also no different than most - I find renewed interest in God during flight. I pray. That's not meant to be disrespectful in any way, it's just a part of human nature. I thank him for allowing us to have something so beautiful to live in and when you think about it, we won't be any closer in this life than at that point.
Breathing.I also concentrate on my breathing. I keep it relaxed and controlled while the plane is in it's ascent. I actually count to myself one...two...three inhale. One...two...three exhale. It induces the relaxation response and puts an end to that fight or flight syndrome that I previously experienced during take off.
Long Lines.I'm mentally preparing myself for the hustle and bustle of travel. I realize there will be crying children, stressed parents, weary businessmen and lonely students. There will be overworked security personnel, airline agents and rental car employees.
Kill Them With Kindness.I'm convinced at this moment that I will respond with kindness to those that are losing their patience. I will offer help when I can and be tolerant when I can't. Counting down the hours to my destination will help. At 3pm when someone has just reamed me, I know that in three hours I'll be home and it won't matter.
Organization.I'll keep my drivers license in the little &quot;goes around my neck&quot; American Tourister organizer for fast identification. I'll pack my laptop so that it's easy to unpack for security. I'll allow enough extra time for check in so that I won't be in such a hurry and worse - miss my plane. I'll wear slip on shoes that I can take off easily.
I hope a few of these ideas will be helpful to you as well. If you are traveling, remember why we chose to go home during these last few days before the holiday.
At this point, if you're feeling like I am, I would tolerate almost anything to be home. We can handle this. Small price to pay to have family near.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Management: New Age Solutions</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management--New-Age-Solutions.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:23:20 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Management</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management--New-Age-Solutions.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[With the hectic pace of life today, most people experience stress on a daily basis. The debilitating effects of stress are such that corporations provide employees with free stress management programs, an increasing number of people are seeking treatment for an anxiety disorder, and medications are being dispensed for people who experience an anxiety attack. In this age, new therapies for stress relief are being developed, such as hypnosis and self-hypnosis. 
There are those who believe that Americans aren't actually experiencing more stress, but rather that we just can't handle it as well as our forefathers. While it's true that the rate of anxiety attack and anxiety disorder is increasing, there's also scientific evidence that there are a greater number of stressors today than there were in years past. 
About 20 years ago, a study was performed to gauge how stress had increased in the prior 100 years. In a nutshell, the study found: 
* You have over one thousand times the number of stressors each day that your great grandfather had. 
* You experience over 300,000 individual stressors daily that your body processes unconsciously. 
* Only ten percent of those stressors are psychological or social; the rest are physical, chemical, and electromagnetic. 
* There are 500,000 synthetic chemicals in our environment that didn't even exist 100 years ago. They permeate our food supply, water and the air inside and outside our homes. 
* There are over 200,000 electromagnetic frequencies in our environment that didn't exist in nature 100 years ago. 
Combining stressors like chemical pesticides, electromagnetic smog, impossibly busy schedules, a demanding job, family obligations, and accelerating change creates a cascade of physiological responses that will lead to disease if not properly removed or discharged. 
Stress relief is crucial, but it doesn't have to take the form of pharmaceuticals to ameliorate anxiety disorder and anxiety attack. New Age stress management techniques can lessen anxiety and provide stress relief. The first step in utilizing New Age stress management techniques is to have a thorough understanding of why our minds naturally cling to old ways of dealing with stress. 
When you encounter situations or people that threaten or challenge you, you experience stress. When you experience stress, a change occurs in your brain chemistry that favors quick thinking over rationality. This same response dampens what you feel within your body. Although this fight or flight mechanism served our ancestors well when they were living in the wild, today it can cause serious health disorders and disease. 
When you're stressed, you move unconsciously and continuously into a state of readiness (for the &quot;attack&quot; that never happens) that prevents you from noticing the stress and strain you are under. Your conscious mind denies the effects of stress and relies on the powerful subconscious mind to defend against the onslaught of imagined physical harm. As a result, your mind sabotages any real progress toward deep and skillful relaxation, as this seems dangerous to a mind under perceived threat. 
Ironically, you find yourself fighting against your own self-defense mechanism. And there's no way to win the battle until you retrain yourself to respond differently to those things that cause an anxiety attack or anxiety disorder. Retraining yourself does not require a change in external circumstances. It simply means that you must alter how the external situation affects your inner world of thoughts and feelings, since these directly affect your physical body and health. 
This is where stress management new age solutions come into play. In this age, new stress relief techniques can alleviate the harmful effects of stress through relearning a new response to stress triggers. ]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Management and the Ego</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-and-the-Ego.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:21:34 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Management</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-and-the-Ego.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Here's how to do it. We can observe ourselves. There are ancient meditation practices based on simple self observation.
We take a moment and just notice ourselves. This can be done by noticing the feelings in our bodies. Notice our breathing. Notice the inhale and exhale. You can do this as a regular practice as a powerful stress management technique. You can get fast relief when you find yourself in stressful situations.
If you wish, you can listen to a free audio meditation on self observation. This will help you get started. After you've used the audio for a while, you can practice self observation on your own.
What does this have to do with the ego? When we observe &quot;our self&quot; we are usually observing the ego. This observation tends to help us realize that we are not really the ego. This is a very powerful step in stress management. It skyrockets the way we experience life.
You can practice this throughout the day. You might decide to walk very slowly and observing yourself when you're walking. This greatly increases your awareness and brings you into the Now.
Over time this can be amazingly relaxing practice of stress management. It brings amazing relief. You'll get more insights about life. You can step out of life's challenges. You can return to the challenges with a refreshed and relaxed state of mind.]]></description>
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<item>
	<title>Self Esteem and Stress Management</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Self-Esteem-and-Stress-Management.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:21:07 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Management</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Self-Esteem-and-Stress-Management.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Self esteem and stress management go hand in hand -- big time. This is especially true when we desperately seek approval from others. The truth is that we can be our own source of approval.
Have you noticed that the stress free people are often the ones with the highest self esteem. They have a quiet self assurance that is independent of external circumstances. They don't need to have other people liking them.
Stress management seems to come naturally as part of their style of living. Self esteem isn't really much of a concern. The strange thing is that many people admire and like them.
As we progress there is less need to control others and outside circumstances. We have a sense of calm and confidence. There is no need to impress anyone. Stress management becomes effortless.
Your own personal stress management / self esteem clinic
This is so simple you won't believe it! And it's so simple that you might need to frequently remind yourself to do it.
Do you really believe that you need to have approval from others? Are you at the mercy of other people? Do you need to be liked?
Well here's a major secret. You can give yourself approval. The beauty of this is that you're in control of the way you feel. And it works very, very well.
A few years ago I met a fellow who deliberately gave himself approval three hours every day. He is one of the most confident, peaceful, and powerful people I've ever met.
This has a cumulative effect. As you use this stress management technique more you keep feeling better. Your self esteem will keep rising and rising.
You can start giving yourself approval by saying words or praise to yourself. Eventually you'll be able to do this just by doing it with feelings. Feel that you're a great person. Feel that you are capable. Feel that you are wonderful.
This is not the same as bragging to others about how great you are. You can do this quietly to yourself. Others will catch on without you offending them.
This can feel so good that you might give yourself approval on a regular basis.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Management Ideas</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-Ideas.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:17:54 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Management</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-Ideas.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Are you somebody who always seems to be under stress? Do you worry most of the time and feel that you have the weight of the world on your shoulders? For the first twenty-two years of my life, I was constantly down and depressed and used to feel very sorry for myself. This article describes how I managed to break free of this depression to have a fairly stress-free life.
Growing up I felt rather hard done by, that life had not dealt me a good hand of cards. These were the reasons I felt sorry for myself:
I had a speech impediment, known as a stutter
I have a bald patch on my head the size of a ten pence piece
Due to comfort eating, I was overweight
I am quite short for a male at five foot four
Some of the above you may think are quite trivial issues, however for me especially as a teenager they caused me a lot of stress.
Stuttering was the major thorn in my side causing me many problems and traumas. I suffered with this speech impediment for eighteen years before finally managing to beat the problem. I now help other people to achieve fluency.
At the age of twenty-two I started to read a lot of books about positive thinking and also started to take more of an interest in world affairs. This gave me a huge wake up call as it made me realise that I was actually dealt a very good set of cards. There are not many countries I would rather have been born in, the things above that I felt were so terrible are in fact very trivial compared to people who live in parts of Africa, as an example.
I had stressed so much that by the age of twenty-one my hair had already started to turn grey. A colleague at work was also to have a huge affect on my life without him even knowing it. He was a man (I will call him Peter) who had many of his own issues. Peter had learning difficulties, had what I call the shakes, did not have many friends and did not have a girlfriend in the six years that I knew him. I would meet Peter for lunch on most days and he would always have a beaming smile on his face. One day I thought to myself, what have you got to smile about? I then decided that if he could smile then so could I.
I now am very happy with who I am, and if people do not like me, I don't care. Life is so much easier now!]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Management Tip - The Art of Delegation</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-Tip-The-Art-of-Delegation.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:16:52 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Management</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-Tip-The-Art-of-Delegation.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[If you are like a lot of other competent and self sufficient people, you may think that no one else can do certain tasks or jobs better than you. This can be especially true for managers and team leaders in the work place as well as mothers at home. In such cases, you may feel that you know exactly what you want and how best to do it. There is a very common saying, &ldquo;If you want something done right, do it yourself.&rdquo; While this attitude is great, the problem with this logic is that for a small list of tasks this might be manageable, but as the task list grows you will never ever be able to stay on top of things. You have two choices. You can continue on by working longer and harder but eventually the workload will become just too great resulting in feeling totally overwhelmed and stressed. Or alternatively you can learn to delegate tasks to others.
So why exactly don&rsquo;t you like delegating? Here are some common reasons.
- There is no one else that can perform the task.- There is a risk that the even though the task will be completed, mistakes will be made.- There is no else that can complete the task quickly enough.- There is a concern of shirking off of responsibilities.- Delegating may require investing precious time in another individual.
These reasons may be valid but there are many benefits to delegating work. Firstly by delegating, you will not be overwhelmed with tasks which means the tasks you do choose to perform will be done well. Trying to take on too much can result in less than satisfactory outcomes. Secondly, by delegating, you have an opportunity to work on higher priority tasks which can actually strengthen your position in an organisation. Thirdly, by sharing the work around, you give others the chance to potentially learn new skills and take on more responsibility. This means as people grow underneath you, you will naturally be pushed higher up in the company. It also means that you will be seen as a good manager that gets good results from your team, making you a likely candidate for future promotion.
When delegating, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. If you are new to delegating, you can start small by farming out easy tasks. This will minimize the amount of time you need to spend with the individuals, reducing the learning curve and chance of mistakes. For larger tasks, pick the person who you think is capable and willing to learn. You will have to accept that the person may need some time to be trained and initially require close supervision. This is best viewed as an investment of your time that will eventually consume less and less of your time as the individual becomes more competent in the task &ndash; that is, short term pain for long term gain.
To ensure the task is completed successfully, set clear expectations and deadlines. While you will define the required outcome, ensure the individuals are given enough scope to work autonomously, promoting creativity in thinking and approach to the task. You will also need to be clear about the level of authority the individuals have in order to get the job done, that is stipulate whether other people can be hired as well as any budget limits. Most importantly you will need to define the key performance indicators (KPI) that will be used to measure the performance of the individuals and quality of the outcome.
Throughout the entire task, or project, keep following up with the individuals until the task has been completed. This will ensure that larger tasks do not go off the rails. If you maintain an open mind, you may just find there is indeed a better way of doing some things compared to how it had been done in the past. Finally let the individuals, YOUR TEAM, know when they have done good work. If certain things could have been done better, suggest an alternative in an encouraging manner. By building their self confidence, it is more likely they will complete the task more efficiently and to higher standard next time.
As you can, the art of delegation is an extremely important skill to have as you rise up in an organisation and even at home. It allows you to manage your ever increasing workload concentrating on the most important tasks at hand. Potentially it can significantly reduce the stress associated with your role at work or at home, while increasing the responsibility and level of enjoyment of those under you as they take on new tasks.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Management In Eight Easy Steps</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-In-Eight-Easy-Steps.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:15:58 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Management</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-In-Eight-Easy-Steps.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[When was the last time you felt stressed out? Last week? Yesterday? With today&rsquo;s hectic pace, it&rsquo;s no wonder many of us experience frayed nerves on a regular basis.
With our to-do list in hand we speed through our days at such a pace even the slightest setback irritates the heck out of us. Instead of keeping pace with the urgency of the world, why not step back and savor those small moments of downtime.
Following is a list of stress management tips that will show you how to make your stress work for, not against you.
Don&rsquo;t make mountains out of molehills.
If slow highway traffic has a tendency to make your blood boil ask yourself &quot;What&rsquo;s the worst thing that could happen?&quot; Far too often everyday stresses like this get the best of us.
Sort out the trivial from the essential.
Give the whole situation a little perspective. If you&rsquo;re stuck in traffic, exaggerate the situation by picturing yourself growing old behind the wheel. Now, how unrealistic is that? Chances are good if you use this method you will end up laughing which is good since humor is a great stress reliever.
Breathe new life into the moment.
Breathe in for four counts, hold for two, then slowly release for six to eight counts. Get a rhythm going for several minutes. Deep breathing opens up the cardiovascular system, enhances blood flow and distributes oxygen to every part of the body.
Imagine a balloon in your stomach that inflates and pushes the abdomen out while you inhale and deflates, letting the abdomen fall back to its original position while you exhale.
Cut stress with kindness.
You&rsquo;d probably agree that the tension in most long lines and crowded waiting rooms is so thick you can cut it with a knife. Be the first one to strike up a conversation. Chatting with others around you is a great way to make the time pass quicker for everyone.
Loosen up your body.
Mentally give your body the once over. Are you grinding your teeth or furrowing your brow? Is there a build up of tension held tight in your shoulders or a knot in your neck? If so, start at the tip of your head and concentrate on releasing the tightness in each individual muscle group until you&rsquo;ve worked everything thru.
Let others pitch in.
We don&rsquo;t have to do everything ourselves. Encourage everyone to pitch in. Divvy up chores among family members. At the very least, relax your own standards &ndash; everything doesn&rsquo;t have to be perfect.
Know what you can change and what you can&rsquo;t.
Even though having a sense of control can reduce stress, certain situations are beyond our influence. Acceptance is often the best approach.
Remember the old saying by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr? &ldquo;God, grant us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.&rdquo; Find comfort in his words.
Walk away stress.
What motivates people to stick with a fitness program? There are more benefits to frequent exercise than trimmer waistlines or firmer thighs. Most people who exercise regularly also benefit from the reduction of stress.
The basis of all stress reduction techniques is to help you focus on the present moment, rather than being distracted. And exercise does just that. During exercise we move in a rhythmic fashion that may also tap into our underlying natural body rhythms such as breathing and heart rate. In turn it can calm the mind and elevate the mood. Researchers have also long attributed the mind-body link to the release of endorphins, our bodies feel-good chemicals.
Turn off negative self talk.
We may not even realize it but we could be feeding our stress level with pessimistic thinking. A great deal of stress comes from what we tell ourselves &ndash; the irrational thoughts and expectations &ndash; the &lsquo;shoulds&rsquo; and the &lsquo;musts&rsquo;.
Take the time to listen to your internal messages. When you catch yourself in negative self-talk, instantly replace the thought with a more realistic one. It may take some time and practice to train yourself to turn those negative thoughts around. But in the long run, it is well worth the effort for the peace and well-being you&rsquo;ll gain.]]></description>
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	<title>All About Stress Management</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/All-About-Stress-Management.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:15:01 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Management</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/All-About-Stress-Management.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[We all have this favorite expression when it comes to being stressed out, and I wouldn't bother naming all of them since it may also vary in different languages. But when it comes down to it, I think that it is how we work or even relax, for that matter that triggers stress. Ever been stressed even when you're well relaxed and bored? I know I have.
Since stress is unavoidable in life, it is important to find ways to decrease and prevent stressful incidents and decrease negative reactions to stress. Here are some of the things that can be done by just remembering it, since life is basically a routine to follow like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. You can do a few of them in a longer span of time, but as they say-- every minute counts.
Managing time.
Time management skills can allow you more time with your family and friends and possibly increase your performance and productivity. This will help reduce your stress.
To improve your time management:
&middot; Save time by focusing and concentrating, delegating, and scheduling time for yourself. &middot; Keep a record of how you spend your time, including work, family, and leisure time. &middot; Prioritize your time by rating tasks by importance and urgency. Redirect your time to those activities that are important and meaningful to you. &middot; Manage your commitments by not over- or undercommitting. Don't commit to what is not important to you. &middot; Deal with procrastination by using a day planner, breaking large projects into smaller ones, and setting short-term deadlines. &middot; Examine your beliefs to reduce conflict between what you believe and what your life is like. Build healthy coping strategies
It is important that you identify your coping strategies. One way to do this is by recording the stressful event, your reaction, and how you cope in a stress journal. With this information, you can work to change unhealthy coping strategies into healthy ones-those that help you focus on the positive and what you can change or control in your life.
Lifestyle.
Some behaviors and lifestyle choices affect your stress level. They may not cause stress directly, but they can interfere with the ways your body seeks relief from stress. Try to:
&middot; Balance personal, work, and family needs and obligations.&middot; Have a sense of purpose in life. &middot; Get enough sleep, since your body recovers from the stresses of the day while you are sleeping. &middot; Eat a balanced diet for a nutritional defense against stress.&middot; Get moderate exercise throughout the week. &middot; Limit your consumption of alcohol. &middot; Don't smoke.
Social support.
Social support is a major factor in how we experience stress. Social support is the positive support you receive from family, friends, and the community. It is the knowledge that you are cared for, loved, esteemed, and valued. More and more research indicates a strong relationship between social support and better mental and physical health.
Changing thinking.
When an event triggers negative thoughts, you may experience fear, insecurity, anxiety, depression, rage, guilt, and a sense of worthlessness or powerlessness. These emotions trigger the body's stress, just as an actual threat does. Dealing with your negative thoughts and how you see things can help reduce stress.
&middot; Thought-stopping helps you stop a negative thought to help eliminate stress. &middot; Disproving irrational thoughts helps you to avoid exaggerating the negative thought, anticipating the worst, and interpreting an event incorrectly. &middot; Problem solving helps you identify all aspects of a stressful event and find ways to deal with it. &middot; Changing your communication style helps you communicate in a way that makes your views known without making others feel put down, hostile, or intimidated. This reduces the stress that comes from poor communication. Use the assertiveness ladder to improve your communication style.
Even writers like me can get stressed even though we're just using our hands to do the talking, but having to sit for 7 or 8 hours is already stressful enough and have our own way to relieve stress. Whether you're the mail guy, the CEO, or probably the average working parent, stress is one unwanted visitor you would love to boot out of your homes, especially your life.]]></description>
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	<title>Occupational Stress Management</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Occupational-Stress-Management.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:13:58 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Management</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Occupational-Stress-Management.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[There are many people in the world who can not stand where they work. Their occupation causes them no end of stress and can leave them struggling to get to sleep at night. There are also many days taken off sick through stress related illnesses. It is now time for people to deal with these issues and to start to react in a more positive and proactive way.
In the past I have worked for companies whose employees have made my life unbearable. These so called colleagues were very bitchy, hanged around in various clans and would stab people in the back at regular intervals. At times I would even dread going to work and would feel sick whilst travelling to my office.
I would return home feeling very drained and would have little energy to do anything in the evenings. I would then decide to go to bed early but would basically just lay their worrying about the next day. This could last for hours on end and at times would last all of the night.
I have read that plenty of sleep is a good way at reducing levels of stress, the question is, how does one get to sleep in the first place?
When I did have the energy to socialise with family or friends, the fear of going to work would end up ruining the night and would stop me from enjoying myself. I felt sorry for the people I was with and hoped that I did not ruin their night as well.
For whatever reason I did not have the confidence to tell people about the problems I had and kept it bottled up to myself. This I now realise was a mistake and I have since learnt to talk about any issues that I have.
For all the stress I had to endure, I certainly was not paid enough. The people who I worked with, including the team leaders, did not treat me with as much respect as I felt I deserved. This period was a very unhappy stage of my life and my health started to become affected.
I wanted to leave this company a lot earlier than the time that I eventually did, the problem was that I did not feel that I could afford to. I decided to save up enough money over a period of about six months so that I could then make my escape. At the same time I started to look at finding alternative work and thought long and hard about which career path I wanted to take.
On the day that I left this job, I will never forget my journey home. I could not stop smiling, I was so relieved that this nightmare was over once and for all.
I am happy to let you know that I have not found myself in a similar situation since. There may well be a time in the future of course when I do and if this ever happens to me again I am determined to leave a lot quicker than I did before. Life is to short to spend living in the way that I had.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Management - Relieve Stress Quickly</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-Relieve-Stress-Quickly.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:13:12 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Management</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Management/Stress-Management-Relieve-Stress-Quickly.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Right now, do a survey of your body. It will tell you if you are stressed or not. Feel the muscles in your neck, your jaw. Are they tense? Notice your hands and arms. Are they tense and searching for things to &ldquo;play&rdquo; with (including a cigarette)?
Bring your consciousness to your back. Is it tense? If any of the questions (or all of them) received a yes answer, you body is stressed, and it is affecting your entire system.
If you can, relax them by thought, and you will be one step ahead in your management of stress.
The effects? Higher rates of blood pressure, nervous disruption directly affecting your ability to concentrate, breathing irregularities that also affect your heart. As you see, your whole body can be disturbed. If this is a daily event, it is taking years off of your life.
The answer will not be in the easy to use cigarette (besides everything else, an anti-depressant), or a bottle of alcohol. The answer lies in your management of the stress. Since many things you cannot change, change those stressors that cause it, you then change your reaction to it.
What are the stressors?
They can be internal (such as too much coffee, drugs, faulty thinking, being a perfectionist, a liar, a &ldquo;yes&rdquo;-person, closed minded, and having unrealistic expectations for example) and external (everyday situations, traffic, dominant boss, fears, irrational rules and procedures, and crowds to name a few). Be they internal or external, the result is the same. You are damaging your health and happiness by inappropriate management of them or no management at all.
What can be done?
Really a great deal can be done to manage stress. The basic element is that you must be, as is an athlete, in good shape when the stress comes. This means sleeping regular hours, elimination of as many internal stressors as possible, having daily chill-out sessions where you relax and regain your internal composure, eat well, and force your body to relax by either meditation or massage or both.
The next factor is being ready when the stress comes. Be a natural problem solver, and when that stress comes, see it as an opportunity to solve a problem. This is a bit like a game, but it works. As in any game, call a &ldquo;time out&rdquo; and if possible, disappear for a while to the nearest restroom. There you will wash your face and hands with cold water a number of times, till you feel the stress passing from you.
Stay happy, even though the stressor is negative and threatening. Try not to take it too personally, and see it objectively, as an observer. Try not to be negative, and see the solution as a near obtainable goal. Even when you are attacked by unreasonable people, if you hold this attitude long enough and strong enough, you will prevail.
Finally see things in a positive way. There are always two sides to anything and everything in the universe.
The stressor may be negative, or appear so, but it will have its positive side. Try to see it, feel it. If you are a religious person, you can feel that there is nothing in the world that happens by mistake, and it may be God that is sending you a test or trial for unknown reasons.
There are many ways to see stressful events, and if you keep a positive view you will have learned to manage the stress well.]]></description>
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	<title>Basic Techniques of Stress Management</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Basic-Techniques-of-Stress-Management.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 18:10:40 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Basic-Techniques-of-Stress-Management.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Stress management should be a discipline that everybody should follow in order to maintain a high-quality lifestyle. Stress coping is not difficult to achieve if you determine external and internal factors leading you to stressful outcomes, analyzing objectively how real and easy to handle they can be.
Accepting to change whatever is wrong, is usually the first step towards stress relief. Stop for a moment and determine if your life is not being affecting by stress already. Check you hands for sweating, coolness or tense nerves, common indicator of stress, along with jaw clenching, the leading factor to headaches and migraines.
However, effective stress management includes the understanding of stress from its different approaches, emotional, physical, emotional and psychological, accompanied by behavioral effects and mood swings. As an example, backache, shoulder or neck ache, not only cause pain but also stress, adding physical and emotional tension.
Stress relief is only possible by putting basic techniques of stress management into your every day practice. A good start is by learning to relax, while keeping a writing record of your feelings and fears. Alternative medicine is contributing to self-management through easy holistic techniques that anyone can practice safely, and effectively, at home.
Deep breathing, exhaling through the mouth instead of nose, relaxation techniques, including Yoga and Tai Chi, are just a few that does not require a high degree of professional skills. Holistic offers also a number of tools promoting relaxation, hence stress relief. Bach Flower remedies and autogenic relaxation (self-suggestion) are the most common to choose.
A professional therapist, introducing you to neuro-linguistic programming, a healing process that enables you to break old conduct patterns by means of awareness, breathing, posture and specific exercises contributing to stress relief, may also conduct stress management based on holistic techniques.
Preventing relapse is also possible through common techniques that have nothing to do with holistic therapies, nor any other New Age alternative. Almost anyone can return to their inner self, relaxing with simple methods such as picturing pleasant images mentally, exercising to maintain a busy mind in a healthy body, or verbalizing positive statements.
Keep in mind that prevention is better than the cure. Stress management techniques are effective, but if you stay away from situations out of your control, avoid or keep under a watching-eye certain substances such as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, drugs and even sugar, you probably will be helping to relieve stress before the condition actually exists.
A healthy diet accompanied by a dietary supplement, 30 minutes of exercise every day and enough sleep by nights can guarantee a stress-free life.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Relief for Busy Business People - 11 Easy Ways</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Stress-Relief-Busy-Business-People-11-Easy-Ways.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:57:17 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
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	<description><![CDATA[Make stress less of an issue for you in your work and life, by trying out one or more of these ideas - the list is not exhaustive! Seek out more and share!
So try these 11 random ideas out - and above all, have some fun!
Squeeze SomethingYou can get them at sports stores (use a squash or racquet ball) or there are even some specialist places that have them and call them 'stress balls'. Get yourself a ball to squeeze. Sometimes they are specially squishy and retain your imprint - even more fun! If you want a cheap alternative, how about a tennis ball with a hole in it!
Start EarlyAdd sufficient time to get where you are going with 10 minutes to spare and be there 10 minutes before you are due - it also gives you time to get a feel for where you are going, the people there, the culture and even what's going on (which might be useful!)
Time OutSpend time with your colleagues outside work. Have some fun together. As long as it isn't forced, this is a great way to get relaxed and get your team spirit built!
Eat OutTake your lunch out of work - in the park, or a quiet restaurant. That hour you take (and you do take an hour, don't you?) gets your mind relaxed and stretching your legs helps too. Personally I prefer down time on my own - I like my own space. Some folks like it with a colleague or a friend - it's up to you!
Take Your HolidaysLife really is too short, so always have a holiday or vacation to look forward to - on those really stressed days you can focus on that warm beach just waiting for you. Or even a long weekend out in the wilds. Somewhere in nature is great.
Get a WindowThere's nothing better for breaking your focus for while than looking out of the window - so if you get the chance, get an office with a view. If not find a place to walk to with your coffee (decaff!) which is a little haven of peace.
Sticker Your PhoneBy reminding yourself that it's a phone call, you will allow yourself to take a breath and relax as you speak - smile even. Just a little reminder that is out of the ordinary will do - try a gold star, stuck somewhere very visible!
Keep ObjectiveWhen business involves taking difficult people decisions it can be really stressful, so try to remember it's not about you or them, it's about an objective business decision. Do it with respect, understanding and focus and it will be a lot less stressful.
Let GoSometimes there are very frustrating moments when you truly could squeeze someone else's head in a vice (could try 1 above instead!). Try being forgiving and taking control of the 'being nice' and resolving it. You can't fix them - it is NOT within your control - but you can fix you and giving in a little is the control position you have - so give it a go!
MusicTry background music either quietly by you or use the internet - there are loads of radio stations and even meditation websites you can use - even for a few minutes.
PuzzleWant to really downshift your stress levels? Try a very challenging puzzle. Thinking about non-work issues deeply will take the pressure off and if you can't do the puzzle, you can always throw it at the wall - much better than your laptop!Tricky this - the stress you get in the outside world is there too. Remember when you had the choice of a ham or cheese sandwich - now there are at least thirty or forty to choose from - stressful lunch decision-making! But chill, you have it in you to do it. All it takes is a little action and a little focus - and even maybe a tank of fish.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Relief Tips</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Stress-Relief-Tips.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:54:19 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Stress-Relief-Tips.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[With how busy we keep ourselves on a day to day basis, it&rsquo;s no wonder that so many of us suffer from stress. Stress is something that is almost impossible to avoid, because of the way that we are wired. With that said though stress can be easily dealt with in many ways.
Exercise - Exercise always pops into articles like this: That&rsquo;s because it&rsquo;s important. Exercise has the ability to relax both your mind and your body. One of the big advantages that exercise has is that it forces you to get out, and to maintain some balance. If your working a lot, and are having a hard time getting other things done in life, you can easily make a deal with yourself to get out for a walk everyday at lunch time. This will allow you to clear your head and be more focused in your work, and also it will allow you time to relax, spend some time with nature, and remember that a physical wellness has a huge impact on mental wellness
Reward - Reward yourself. Too often we get into patterns where we work too much, sleep to little, and run our body into the ground. Take breaks daily, weekly, monthly. Get up during the day from your work, and get in a walk. Take a weekend get away to freshen up your mind from your work. Take a yearly trip to experience something different from the 9-5 grind back home. I understand that not all of these things are capable but they are all possible in moderation and with:
Balance - Living a balanced life is very important to maintain limited stress. Balance doesn&rsquo;t mean trying to do too many things at once. Balance means not living all work and no play. Balance your life with work, family, friends, exercise, hobbies, etc.
Values - Take a moment to think about the things that are the most important for you in your life. Often times when we are living off the wall and not by our values there is an increase of stress in our days.
Planning - Who ever said &ldquo;fail to plan, plan to fail&rdquo; was on the ball. There is also an element of stress in unplanned situations. Unknowns cause us to worry, and to get stressed out about situations that we could have taken a little time to plan ahead for seems silly - doesn&rsquo;t it?]]></description>
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<item>
	<title>Stress Relief in Minutes</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Stress-Relief-in-Minutes.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:53:33 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Stress-Relief-in-Minutes.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[For those who are suffering from stress, just about the hardest thing to find is stress relief. Stress can often continue itself on its own energy and, as it mounts up upon itself, it builds itself into an absolute mental frenzy. Unfortunately, this sort of mental frenzy is ultimately counter-productive and leaves the mind so frenzied that it cannot actually take care of whatever is causing the stress. Thus, stress relief is a way to help the mind attend to the necessities of life.
The first thing you need to realize about stress is that you can get rid of it. In fact, you can control your mind and your emotions and you do not need to hang on to stress. If you learn to get rid of stress all on your own, you will be able to get rid of it that much easier the next time. You control your brain a lot more than you know.
With that in mind, the first way to help give yourself stress relief is with your feet. That is, if something is causing you all sorts of stress, you need to simply stand up and walk away from it. This will give your mind the break it needs to calm down and come to grips with the situation. Simply allowing it to stress you out more and more is simply not a productive plan. So get up, walk away, and give yourself a break.
Once you have walked away, there are several things you can do for stress relief. One of the easiest things is simply cleaning the house. That's right, vacuuming, dusting, ironing, scrubbing the floors and cleaning the countertops will actually help you relieve stress. Simply organizing messes and cleaning away dirt will help you immeasurably. This is because you will be taking care of messes, much in the manner you want to clean up the messes in your life. By sweeping away the dust and grime, you will be taking charge of your own home and, in a way, removing the clutter from your life by removing the clutter from your home.
Another method of stress relief is through a hobby. This can be model ship building, stamp collecting, or any number of other means to help you keep your mind off of things. Likewise, woodworking or even fishing can help you get some stress relief and clear away the fog of anxiety that can arise from the stresses of everyday life. By focusing on something other than what is pressing you, you can get rid of those piling stresses that threaten to take you over. Hobbies give your mind something to concentrate on. And by concentrating on something completely meaningless, your mind can finally relax and let go of the pressures that build up with every little concern.
For those who like to be a little more active, playing a sport is a great way to relieve stress. Just going outside and shooting some hoops or joining a league can give you stress relief through simple physical exertion. These activities will keep your body active and provide some necessary relaxation to your mind.
You can also get stress relief through writing. By concentrating on what is on your mind and putting it down on paper, it allows the stress to have an outlet. It puts your concerns into words and those words can be either kept or discarded. This is particularly effective for people who don&rsquo;t have anyone to talk to and need to tell someone about what is going on or even what is going wrong. So keep a diary or a journal and let yourself get rid of your stress by putting ink onto a page.
However, the most important method of stress relief is the method that works for you. Many people like to take a nice hot bath to get rid of stress. Some enjoy playing with a pet. Others find excellent stress relief through meditation. It doesn't matter what you do, just make sure it works and then make sure that you do it.
Stress relief is hard to find, but it is necessary in the hectic lives that we lead. But many other people have managed to rid themselves of their concerns for a little while and get on with their lives. Stress does not need to overcome you and, though it may seem like a monumental task, it can be removed. So find a way to relax and make sure that you do it. Once you learn how to remove your stress, you will find that you are much happier and much more productive and much more able to deal with the issues that can cause stress every single day.]]></description>
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	<title>Three Stress Relief Techniques</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Three-Stress-Relief-Techniques.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:53:05 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Three-Stress-Relief-Techniques.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[There is good stress, and there is bad stress. Good stress is the type that propels a person to excel, to reach new heights or to complete a big project on time.
And there is bad stress. Stress that comes from conflict or worries. Stress that keeps a person from sleeping and happiness. Stress that calls for relief. Here are three stress-relief tips you can follow.
Meditation for stress relief. 
Can there be a more obvious stress relief strategy than to bring your entire physical being to a calm? Meditation techniques often involve visualization of something calm, like a blank screen or clouds. Or it can mean clearing your mind entirely.
If stress is caused by how we allow our minds to captured by worries and fears, then replacing those worries and fears with calmer images is the obvious way to reduce stress.
You can sign up for a free course on meditation techniques to reduce stress at my website.
Exercise to reduce stress. 
If relaxing to a state where even your blood vessels are almost still is the ultimate in stress relief, surely exercise, which gets even your blood pumping at breakneck speed, must be the ultimate stress demon.
Not so. Exercise is a big stress reliever. In fact, the bigger the muscles you exercise, the more less stress you will bear. That's because exercise releases physical tension in the muscles.
Here's another tip: exercise in water to reduce stress even more. Why? Because you are more buoyant on water; gravity takes a much gentler toll on your body, so the tension created in your muscles just by holding you up gets released. For the ultimate stress release, exercise in water. Or meditate in water. Or laugh in water.
Laughter reduces stress, too. 
Yes, laughter also relieves stress. The muscles we use to laugh are those tense ones in our faces. When we loosen them, we release tension from our faces. We also allow more blood to flow to the pleasure centers of the brain (which might be why someone with a 'good sense of humor' is considered more attractive).]]></description>
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	<title>5 Ways To Stress Relief</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/5-Ways-To-Stress-Relief.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:51:20 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/5-Ways-To-Stress-Relief.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Stress has been called 'the plague of our time'. More than ever before stress relief seems to be in great demand and especially for people in stressful jobs or careers. It would be more appropriate to ask which jobs or careers are not stress related and you would probably be able to count the number on one hand. As a self help tool for handling stressful situations in your everyday life, I'll give you 5 simple methods for instantly relieving stress that has worked great for me. I really hope these methods can be useful for you as well.
Remove stress with relaxation.
If you are stressed, sit down at the most comfortable place you can find, close your eyes and say to your self slowly:
&quot;I am calm. Absolutely calm. I feel relaxed. My hands are heavy. I'm calm and relaxed. My arms are heavy and relaxed. My arms and my legs are relaxed and heavy. My torso is relaxed, calm and feels heavy. My shoulders and neck are heavy and relaxed. My entire body is calm, relaxed and heavy. I feel great, relaxed and calm. I feel warmth spreading from my stomach to all parts of my body. My entire body is calm, relaxed, heavy and warm. I feel good and I&rsquo;m totally relieved from stress. &quot;
Continue having this feeling of being totally relaxed and stress less for as long as you can or want. When you decide to finish this down-stressing session, take a deep breath and stretch out your arms in a short and energetic movement. How do you feel now? Practice this exercise every time you feel stressed.
Sit down and look at the Sea.
If you are stressed and need to relax go to the harbor, the nearest beach or any place close to the sea, or a lake if you live in the inland. Just sit there and feel it, smell it, hear it. Don't think so much, just sense. Do you feel relaxed? Keep on until you feel the stress has left you.
Take a Walk.
If you are stressed leave your home or office and take a thirty minute walk. Just walk don't talk to anybody. Try to relax while you walk. Instead of thinking or focusing on your current problems, try to sense your environments like smell, sound impressions and what you see as well as your inner feelings; heart beat, your feet touching the ground and the movements of your arms. Do you feel relaxed now? After half an hour your stressful feelings should have disappeared.
Listen to Music.
If you are stressed sit or lie down, walk or do whatever you want, while you are listening to music. Don't listen to heavy rock and similar music, this might invoke even more stress. Relaxing with a Nat King Cole ballad or two, some slow pace smooth Jazz, the Adagietto movement of Gustav Mahlers 5th symphony or Mozart's Grand Partita for wind instruments are all great. Do you feel more relaxed? Is your stressfulness leaving you? It should.
Laugh, laugh and laugh.
If you are stressed, call or visit friends that you have had much fun with. Talk with them about funny things you have done in the past and as they the youngsters say, &ldquo;Get your laugh on&rdquo;. Do all you can to provoke good and healthy laughter as it is very relaxing and dissolves the away the stress. Read a joke magazine, watch a comedy DVD or video or listen to a funny audio. If you have kids around you, play a crazy and childish game with them, they love it and everybody will relax. The point is, laugh and your stress will disappear and you'll feel relaxed.]]></description>
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<item>
	<title>10 Stress Relief Tips</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/10-Stress-Relief-Tips.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:48:28 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/10-Stress-Relief-Tips.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Make these ten simple stress relievers part of your life for calm, confident living.
1. Think positively. Break the habit of putting yourself and everything else down. When you catch yourself thinking negatively, stop it.
2. Learn to see problems as challenges that can be overcome. Remember: you always have options.
3. Never say never again. Everything is possible.
4. If you make a mistake, don&rsquo;t dwell on it. Learn what you can from it and move on.
5. Cut big problems down to size. Think of one thing you can do today to improve a situation. Focus all your energy on achieving it.
6. Look for at least one reason a day to laugh. Research shows laughter releases feel-good chemicals in the brain.
7. Spend at least a minute every day contemplating all the things you have in your life to be grateful for.
8. Ask yourself empowering questions. In the midst of a crisis, for example, don&rsquo;t ask why you got into this mess; ask how can you improve it.
9. Do what you can to minimise stressful situations. If you face a mad rush in the mornings, for example, get up earlier, have your clothes and paperwork ready.
10. Tackle challenges head-on. Procrastination only delays things, it doesn&rsquo;t solve them.]]></description>
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	<title>How A Problem Solver Got Stress Relief</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/How-A-Problem-Solver-Got-Stress-Relief.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:47:33 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/How-A-Problem-Solver-Got-Stress-Relief.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Do you behave as though you get stress relief by being the center of the universe?
What this often means is that you think you are responsible for taking care of everybody, and giving them stress relief by fixing their complications and/or problems.
There are obvious positives and negatives to this situation of enjoying stress relief.
One of the positives is that you feel you are experiencing stress relief because you are always busy and the center of attention. You are also a very good problem solver and you experience stress relief every time you solve a problem.
One of the negatives to this situation is that everybody knows that you are good at problem solving and therefore leave most things up to you because you are very efficient at solving stressful or negative situations.
This position (of a problem solver) which once provided you with stress relief , now creates all kinds of stressful situations for you. This is because you do not perceive people as perceptive and efficient as you are. Therefore, you feel this gives you the license to fix everybody's problems.
Eventually, you will discover that you have no time for yourself and stress relief because of the stress of solving other people's problems. The stress of your perceived incompetence of others will also begin to weigh heavily on you and your health. As your patience wavers, and you begin to get more and more irritable, you may start to notice that people do not really need you to solve their problems and may even begin to ignore you.This also means that you are now experiencing less stress relief.
As a hypnotherapist, NLP Trainer and Energy worker, I have seen people in my private practice hit depression and commence medications because they thought that other people needed them to solve their problems.
So what is the moral of the story?
Although you may feel that you are proficient at a task, there is always someone who is having more stress relief and fun. Other people can do the same task of problem solving better and faster than you.
If you see yourself as the only person who knows how to do the task then you are preventing yourself from learning and growing. What this means is that you are not allowing yourself to learn and enjoy stress relief because you have avoided any new ideas which may be beneficial too you.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Relief and Music</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Stress-Relief-and-Music.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:46:42 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Stress-Relief-and-Music.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Stress. It affects us all. The noise. The emotional upsets. The rapidly approaching holiday season that we're all supposed to smile our way through.
Thankfully, one of the ways we can relieve stress is by putting on some relaxing music. Some love to listen to nature sounds. Some quiet piano music. Whatever you are attracted to, take a minute to sit down, close your eyes, and listen.
Your heart rate and breathing will start to slow down along with your thoughts. As you tune in to the sound of the music, you let go of the cares and concerns of the outer world. Now, an inner journey begins to take place.
After listening for a few minutes, you find yourself feeling refreshed and renewed, as if a blanket of sound has washed you clean. And all you had to do was put a CD in your player. Listening to music is a great way to reduce stress levels. Playing music can actually reduce stress even further.
As we approach our chosen instrument, we settle into a happy routine that always brings us comfort and joy. As a piano player, I love preparing to play. The act of sliding the bench out, of touching the keys and placing my hands on a chord all contribute to a calming ritual that allows me to relax and unwind. And then as I play, cares and concerns of this world slowly drop off my shoulders and I am transported into a place where peace is present.]]></description>
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	<title>Stimulate the Senses for Stress Relief</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Stimulate-the-Senses-for-Stress-Relief.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:44:56 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Stimulate-the-Senses-for-Stress-Relief.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Whilst there are hundreds of books, therapies, drugs, herbal remedies, self help courses and specialist activities available for reducing stress, there are still only two ways to have less stress in your life. Firstly remove the cause of the stress. Secondly, find ways to reduce its impact. Put like that it sounds so simple and easy, but the reality is that when you are stuck in the middle of the wood, it&rsquo;s hard to see the trees.
As in many things, it&rsquo;s often the natural simple things that can have the most beneficial effect so don&rsquo;t be fooled by the &lsquo;low tech, back to basis&rsquo; style of these suggestions. They are all based on our senses, the five ways that we directly experience life. And most of the suggestions below are free and don&rsquo;t involve chemicals!
Stimulate the five senses.
Smell &ndash; Lavender oil has long been known for its ability to relieve tension and ease stress. Put a few drops on your pillow at night or by day consider keeping a tissue nearby that has been laced with its distinctive aroma.
Taste &ndash; Stress strips the body of vital vitamins, especially B and C. And if you rely on high caffeine intake to cope, this also depletes your supplies of vitamin C. So have something good to eat. I will make you feel better and help to replace those lost vitamins. Complex carbohydrates will induce the release of serotonin making you feel calm.
Sight &ndash; A daily &lsquo;nature hit&rsquo; is essential to our wellbeing. 1980&rsquo;s study showed that patients recovering from operations recovered more quickly when their view was of nature, plants and trees rather than more urban features such as roads, walls and buildings. So to reduce stress, why not take time out to surround yourself with nature?
Hearing &ndash; Meditating by focussing on a single sound can alter brainwave patterns to alpha which are naturally relaxing. Alternatively if you don&rsquo;t want to spend months learning how to meditate then listen to a binaural beat recording instead. A binaural beat of 4.9hz will produce exactly the same calming alpha state.
Feeling &ndash; One symptom of stress is quick and shallow breathing. This starves the body of fresh oxygen, so breathe from the stomach rather than the chest - this also helps to expel stale air that can accumulate in the lower lungs. Breathe slowly and deeply and concentrate on making the out breath longer than the in breath, this naturally reduces stress.
The important thing is that whatever you do, do something. For example you could take a deep breath right now, hold it and exhale slowly&hellip; Trust your instincts and rely on your five senses to lead you out of that stressful wood.]]></description>
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	<title>Stress Relief Provided by Herbal Medicine</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Stress-Relief-Provided-by-Herbal-Medicine.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:42:02 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Stress-Relief-Provided-by-Herbal-Medicine.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Chances are, you may not know about the use of herbal medicine to provide stress relief.
We certainly can&rsquo;t blame if you don&rsquo;t. Herbal medicine, after all, is still trying to gain its former popularity and so many people are still in doubt of its efficacy and prefer to use prescription medicine instead. But you see, if you take the time to check historical texts, the use of herbal medicine can date back as far as 5,000 years ago! The efficacy of herbal medicine, therefore, should not be in doubt anymore since it&rsquo;s supported by five millennia worth of proof.
Before we give you an example of herbal medicine that can provide stress relief, however, we shall give you a little bit of dos and don&rsquo;ts on the subject of herbal medicine to ensure safety and proper use.
Do consult your doctor first before taking any herbal medicine to fight stress or for whatever reason. Self-medication is never good and it can bring you a lot of complications that could have easily been avoided if you had only asked your doctor about your chosen type of medication.
When consulting your doctor, do bring a sample of your herbal medicine so he&rsquo;ll be able to analyze whether it&rsquo;s real and of good quality. To safeguard yourself from cheap herbal medicine imitations, always buy from any herbal medicine store of good and long standing reputation. These stores may even offer money back guarantee and of course, that wouldn&rsquo;t hurt at all.
Your doctor may also make you aware if there would be any possible negative reactions if and when you do take a particular herbal medicine. That doesn&rsquo;t mean you can&rsquo;t take herbal medicine anymore to gain provide relief; it simply means that you&rsquo;re just not able to take that particular herbal medicine and you have to search for another.
Lastly, if you&rsquo;re already taking prescription medicine, you truly need to visit your doctor before taking herbal medicine as well because there are instances when a combination of both can result to unwanted complications.
And now for an example of herbal medicine that can provide stress relief:
Catnips &ndash; One of the most common symptoms of stress are diarrhea, increased or loss of appetite and anxiety. If these are stress symptoms that trouble you most, this herbal medicine is definitely what you need because it nurtures the stomach and nerves.
Kada Kava &ndash; This herbal medicine can provide stress relief by vanquishing symptoms like insomnia (typical of workaholics who love to do overtime) and anxiety (typical of workaholics who have high pressure jobs).]]></description>
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	<title>Massage Therapy and Stress Relief</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Massage-Therapy-and-Stress-Relief.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:41:14 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Massage-Therapy-and-Stress-Relief.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[While the practice of therapeutic massage has been used for centuries in the east, it is a relatively recent phenomenon here in the west. While the wonders of modern medicine have left many awestruck, more and more people are looking towards complimentary therapies and non-invasive treatments for their ailments. Massage therapy has never been as popular as it is today in America.
A number of studies have shown that massage therapy is a highly effective stress reduction technique. An earlier study, conducted by the University of Miami Medical School and published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, suggested that children receiving 30 minutes of therapeutic massage daily were less depressed and anxious than they were at the time of their admittance.
This particular study also observed marked differences in the health and behavior of the children in the test group, over the children in the control group. The nurses taking part in the study also noted that the children were more cooperative, and were able to achieve a higher level of sleep quality. On the biological level, the children in the control group exhibited lower levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) in their saliva and in their urine. It quickly became evident to researchers that massage can play a significant role in stress reduction.
It is highly encouraging that both the medical establishment and the general public are starting to realize the impact that stress can have on an individual's health and well being. Some physicians and researchers have suggested that stress is responsible for over 75% of all disease in the western world, including skin disorders, high blood pressure, headaches, digestive ailments, muscle pain, and depression. By employing the age-old techniques of massage therapy, there exists the distinct possibility of overcoming these terrible afflictions.
The eminent Victorian physician, Dr. Stretch Dowse, noted the following back in 1887: &quot;The mind, which before massage is in a perturbed, restless, vacillating and, even despondent state, becomes after massage, calm, quiet, peaceful and subdued; in fact, the wearied and worried mind has been converted into a mind restful, placid, and refreshed.&quot; While modern medicine is full of promise in certain areas, it is not wise to ignore the knowledge and insights of the past. Massage therapy has helped countless people cope with the stress of modern life. It could help you, too.]]></description>
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	<title>The Unrelaxers - Stress Relief</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/The-Unrelaxers-Stress-Relief.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:40:00 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/The-Unrelaxers-Stress-Relief.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[We&rsquo;ve all got favourite ways of relaxing, but some are more effective than others and some aren&rsquo;t really relaxing at all. Let&rsquo;s be honest &ndash; flopping in front of the television can be just the job after a day spent running after children and speeding around the shops. But edge-of-the-seat game shows and horror films can leave your heart pounding like a woodpecker. And if you&rsquo;ve spent an equally tiring day sitting at a desk, more sitting is just what you don&rsquo;t need
For many women, a coffee or cigarette break is the only chance they get to stop working. But caffeine and nicotine are stimulants, not relaxers. The short break is actually to &lsquo;unrelax&rsquo;, to take chemicals on board that will help you stay alert a bit longer. However, they do the same when you&rsquo;ve finished work, and are trying to wind down. They are addictive, so having one is a relief because it stops the craving.
But while sitting down to a familiar ritual can be relaxing in itself &ndash; the caffeine and nicotine whizzing round your bloodstream keep everything hyped up (and even tea contains some caffeine) &ndash; herbal teas, or the beverages sold in health food shops, are a better bet for relaxing.
Alcohol is famous for helping people relax &ndash; often more than they intended to. But though it can ease stress, unknot tense muscles and bring on sleep, the benefits are only temporary &ndash; you&rsquo;ll breathe shallowly and wake up early. Beware, too, if you start finding that you can&rsquo;t relax without it.
Not all drugs are equal, of course. A drink or a couple of coffees a day shouldn&rsquo;t do any harm unless you&rsquo;re pregnant or have been warned off them by you doctor. Some researchers even recommend a glass of wine a day to keep the heart healthy. Tobacco, on the other hand, offers no benefits of any kind. It&rsquo;s harmful even in small amounts and &ndash; never mind dying young &ndash; causes more boring, painful, totally avoidable ill-health than anything else in the Western world. Relaxing with a cigarette is like trying to sleep on a bed of nails &ndash; it causes stressful reactions such as speeding your heart, so the body can&rsquo;t relax deeply. It&rsquo;s expensive too, saving the cost of a packet of cigarettes a day will pay for a genuinely relaxing weekly treat. If you&rsquo;re worried about putting on weight, healthy eating and exercise will keep it off.
Overeating is another false friend when you&rsquo;re under stress. Don&rsquo;t feel guilty, just find more helpful ways of being kind to yourself when you need it.
Tranquillizers may seem the only answer when you&rsquo;re desperate, but these addictive drugs only help for a short time, if at all. After that, they cause more damage than they could have ever have cured. If you&rsquo;re at the end of your tether, ring the Samaritans &ndash; listed in your local phone book &ndash; or ask your doctor to refer you for counselling or to put you in touch with one of the self-help groups set up by fellow-sufferers for all kinds of problems. These can also give sympathetic, practical advice if you&rsquo;re already hooked and need help coming off.
Standing Up To Stress.
When something makes you feel stressed, there are three ways of reacting:
1. Changing things outside, by taking action to solve the problem2. Change things inside, by accepting what&rsquo;s happening and coming to terms with it.3. Do neither, and worry helplessly.
Needless to say, the first course of action is best, whether it&rsquo;s joining an environmental action group or refusing to clean up after everyone.
Some things can&rsquo;t be changed so, option 2, you simply have to live with them &ndash; any energy you put into resenting them is wasted.
Often, though, you can compromise with a mixture of 1 and 2. Take money, for example &ndash; that prime source of worry. You can try to earn more or spend less. Cut up credit cards and find new pleasures that don&rsquo;t cost anything, until the wheel of fortune turns back in you favour.
Contact anyone whom you owe money (especially is they own your home) and arrange to pay in manageable instalments.
Take whatever steps you can to protect yourself and your family, stay out of any more debt, look after your health, learn new skills that could earn extra cash.
And then stop worrying. Hand to do, yes, but not impossible. Meditation and breathing techniques are a big help here, creating a feeling of peace and calmness. And like any exercise, they get easier the more you practise.
Worry is worse than useless &ndash; its paralysing effects stop people doing anything constructive. It stops you enjoying what you&rsquo;ve got. And it can cause a host of problems of its own, such as phobias and panic attacks.
Learning to relax clears the mind and frees up energy, making it easier to find solutions. The only answer is:
&bull; Relax&bull; Think what to do&bull; Do it&bull; Get on with your life
Keep Worries In their Place
If you can&rsquo;t stop fretting over a problem:
&bull; Make an appointment with it. Every afternoon, say, from 2.15 to 2.30, settle down and worry about it. Give it your full attention and get as upset as you need to. No, honestly &ndash; try it. If you don&rsquo;t feel comfortable sitting down to it, do it while you&rsquo;re ironing. But only for fifteen minutes &ndash; set a timer and stop when it buzzes. When you catch yourself worrying at other times, stop at once &ndash; but promise yourself you&rsquo;ve only got to wait till 2.15.
&bull; Wash it away. Worry to your heart&rsquo;s content while you&rsquo;re washing up or cleaning floors &ndash; but only then &ndash; and throw your worries out with the dirty water.
&bull; Write it down. The whole dreadful story, and all the awful things that could happen. Then burn it or tear it into tiny pieces. The same where you&rsquo;re angry &ndash; write a steaming letter to the person who&rsquo;s upset you, then make sure you destroy it. Just don&rsquo;t send it!]]></description>
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	<title>Simple Stress Relief Natural Methods</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Simple-Stress-Relief-Natural-Methods.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:37:40 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/Simple-Stress-Relief-Natural-Methods.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[From medicinal aids to mental exercises, there are lots of ways to gain stress relief. It's very important that you pay attention to what your body is telling you, because it's easy to get drawn into your job, home, or school activities and frustrations and not realize until afterwards that you've got a mega load of stress.
When you feel the stress building up in yourself one of the easiest ways to rid yourself of it is to stop and take a deep belly breath and exhale over the course of five seconds. This serves to halt whatever processes are making your mind overexcited and your body tense and gives you a chance to remember how relaxed is supposed to feel. Of course we don't always notice in time to keep a lot of stress from building up.
Stress can cause all kinds of problems including fatigue, tension headaches, insomnia, and even ulcers and indigestion. Not to mention long term stressors can wear down your immune system and heart, which makes you sick, which gives you more stress and the cycle can be endless.
Fortunately, there are ways to relieve stress before or after you develop it. There are a range of herbal mixtures you can take to help relax your body and calm your mind. Try making up a hot tea with Chamomile, Lavender, and Catnip in it. These are herbs that you can grow in your garden with ease.
Taking vitamin supplements can support your body during times of stress. Vitamin A is good for the immune system, skin and eyes. A combination B vitamin pill with all of the B vitamins in it will be very effective against depression, fatigue and stress. It should include Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, B12 and folic acid.]]></description>
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<item>
	<title>3 Tips for Stress Relief</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/3-Tips-for-Stress-Relief.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:35:54 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Stress Relief</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Stress-Relief/3-Tips-for-Stress-Relief.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[1. Be aware of your surroundings
If you find yourself continuously thinking back to a stressful situation, remember that it is over, at least for the moment. Look around. Become aware of your surroundings. Focus on your breathing. Whenever you find yourself slipping back into the stressful memory, say to yourself, &quot;I am here now.&quot; This is one of the best methods I've found for instant stress relief.
2. See anything that causes you stress, as a Test.
Imagine that the things that cause you stress, are merely distractions. These things are testing your ability to remain centered. If you look at it as a test, something that gives you the opportunity to make a choice about how to feel, it stops having power over you. You will then find it easier to choose happiness.
3. Take time for yourself
This is incredibly important. If you can, make time each day JUST FOR YOURSELF. Whether you can take 10 minutes or an hour, make sure that you do. Spending time by yourself, relaxing and focusing on the moment helps to give you the mental break you need to unwind. If you have a period of quietness throughout the day, meditate. This clears the mind like nothing else. Simply focus on your breathing for 10 minutes or more. If your mind starts to wander, don't worry about it. Just bring your awareness back to your breathing.
These are great tools for stress relief. Practice them whenever you can. Incorporate them into your daily routine, and you will find yourself much calmer and more relaxed at all times.]]></description>
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<item>
	<title>Work Stress - Why Your Job May Be Killing You</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Work-Stress/Work-Stress-Why-Your-Job-May-Be-Killing-You.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:33:12 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Work Stress</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Work-Stress/Work-Stress-Why-Your-Job-May-Be-Killing-You.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[If asked if your job is stressful, chances are you would answer with an emphatic &quot;Boy is it ever&quot;! Work is by far the leading source of stress in our lives. Nine out of ten people say they experience high levels of stress several times a week. And one out of four of us have high stress levels every day.
What you may not know is that your stress from work may, in fact, be affecting your health. Stress affects the body in many different ways. While some kinds of stress are beneficial, others can cause serious health problems.
Chronic stress weakens the body's physiological systems and leads to innumerable health problems. In fact, 70 to 80 percent of all disease and illness is stress related.
Major stress related health problems include coronary heart disease, cancer, the common cold, migraine headaches, warts, some cases of female infertility, ulcers, insomnia, and hypertension.
Over $400 billion dollars a year is spent on stress related diseases.
Even more frightening is that job stress is at an all-time high and continues to rise. Gone are the days of working 40 hours a week. The average person now works 60 hours a week which means more hours of prolonged stress and less time to relax.
Work stress even invades our vacation time. According to Anderson Consulting, 80% of people who took vacations in 2000 stayed in touch with the office by taking their laptop or cell phone with them.
There are several indicators you can use to determine if you suffer from chronic stress. Warning signs of chronic stress include headaches, teeth-grinding, back pain (especially in the shoulders or neck), anxiety, and insomnia.
It is important to identify the factors at work that may be causing your stress. Examine the responsibilities of your job. High responsibility jobs can be a source of great stress. Your work environment can also cause stress if it is noisy, crowded, etc. If you have interpersonal problems at work, this can be one of the greatest sources of work-related stress.
If you suffer from chronic stress, there are many things you can do to reduce stress. Some of the most effective stress management techniques include relaxation exercises, meditation, or taking a short nap. If you are at work and need to reduce stress, try deep (abdominal) breathing, take a short break, or talk to a friend or co-worker.
Ultimately, virtually every job is somewhat stressful. But by identifying and effectively managing your stress, you can reduce its negative effects and enjoy a healthier life.]]></description>
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<item>
	<title>Stress Management In The Workplace - Handling Work Stress</title>
	<link>http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Work-Stress/Stress-Management-Handling-Work-Stress.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 17:31:41 -0400</pubDate>
<category>Work Stress</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.Stress-HelpToday.com/info/Work-Stress/Stress-Management-Handling-Work-Stress.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Stress management in the workplace is a reality that most of us have to face for one reason or another and coping with it is key to long-term career success.
Some careers are more stressful than others and some companies and managers you work for might provide you with more stress than you&rsquo;d otherwise like.
Having some stress can be helpful because it can provide motivation that allows you to work with a bit of a sense of urgency and purpose.
When stress in the workplace reaches a high level and carries over to your personal life in a negative way though, this is a sign that you need to do something to properly manage it so that it doesn&rsquo;t spiral out of control further.
Here are some suggestions for successful stress management in the workplace: 
1. Try to address issues that might be affecting your stress level that you might not readily think of, especially the ones you can change. Do you drive 1 hour to work each day and feel beaten up by the time you get into the office each morning? Are there ways you can lighten your workload? Do you need to learn how to say &ldquo;no&rdquo; to certain requests from time to time? Look for ways of changing how you to things especially ones you have some control over.
2. Look for ways to improve your time management. Often, stress is a result of simply not having enough time to complete everything you need to do. Stop wasting time talking with colleagues and making personal phone calls, stop surfing the Internet for personal reasons, and eliminate other time wasters. Shut your office door if you have trouble with people walking in and distracting you or find a quiet office where you can work undisturbed if necessary.
3. Find some sort of athletic endeavor to take part in. I like working out at the gym but you might find jogging, playing squash or taking yoga classes will help. Try something athletic that gets your mind off work. Start by going for a walk at lunchtime just to get out of the office for a bit.
4. Don&rsquo;t neglect your personal life. Remember to try to find the proper balance between your work life and your work outside of work. Try when possible to leave work at work. A separation between work and personal life is paramount.
5. Carefully consider whether or not you are in the right job. If successful stress management at work is just not possible and if you yearn for your time with a previous employer when things were better, maybe you&rsquo;re in the wrong job. Do you like what do you or is it simply a job to you? If it&rsquo;s simply a job there might be other jobs that are less stressful that are better suited to your personality. 
Stress management in the workplace is critical to your long-term career and long-term health. When stress management is simply not achievable through change, consider consulting a doctor for a medical opinion in case you are suffering from more than just stress.]]></description>
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