Living A Life Without Stress

Stress is a reaction that happens to our bodies when we are faced with many external situations.  Such as noise, pollution, relationships, family, negativity and finances. 

There are two different kinds of stress.  One that has a negative effect on the body and one that has a positive effect. The normal kind helps put the body and mind into action.  It can bring a new exciting out look on life.  On the other hand the negative kind of stress, disrupts the emotions.  When you are experiencing the negative kind of stress, you will feel irritability, depression, tired, impatient rejection and anger.   

Negative stress does not just effect the mind, but the body as well.  Did you know that 80% of all diseases are linked to stress.

Many common conditions & signs caused by stress are:

• tension headaches & migraines,
  
• high blood pressure,
  
• sleep disturbance,
  
• upset or acid stomach, 
• muscle tension
• hair loss
• weight problems
• irregular heart beat, palpulations

Many common physical conditions are:

• Asthma
  
• Chest pain
• Jaw pain
• Reproductive problems
• Low libido
• Skin problems such as eczema
• Low blood circulation, cold hands and feet
• Frequent infections, cold, flu

As you can see from the two lists above stress definitely has a negative impact on the mind and body.  So if you have some of the symptoms stated above, the good new is that you don't have to live with stress. 

Stress is every where and everyone has to deal with it. My goal for this hubpage is to give you some advice about what you can do right now to relieve some symptoms of stress. There are many things that can be done daily to avoid stress.

1. Don't cry over spilled milk. What I mean is when you face a certain situation that would normally make you mad or cause you to feel stress, try to change the way you look at it. Just slug it off. Don't get worked up over the small things in life. When someone cut's you off while driving, chose not to let it make you angry. Take a deep breath and think "it's Ok". That person made a mistake or was just being selfish, but luckily nothing happened and everything is going to be alright. When you chose to not make a big deal about something, your emotions will stay stable and calm.
2. Get moving. Exercise is a great way to deal with stress on a daily basis. While you exercise your body produces endorphins that put you into a good mood. Exercise get's the heart pumping and has you focus on breathing. Yoga and stretching is also very relaxing and get's rid of tension in the muscles.
3. Be prepared for stressful situations. If you know that you have to get up early the next day for an appointment or just to go to work, get everything ready the night before. Make sure that your car keys are in the same spot and have your clothes picked out already. Making sure that you are already prepared will have the morning go smoothly and stress free. Always think ahead.
4. Ask for help. If you feel overloaded with daily tasks, ask someone to help you. For example the tasks of a stay at home mother is equal to working two full time jobs. Cleaning, cooking, shopping, driving and taking care of kids is never ending. Or how about a single parent who has to work all day and then cook, clean, shop and take care of the kids. Everyone's situations are different and if your daily tasks are starting to stress you out, the best thing you can do is to ask a family member or friend for help. Get the kids involved in cleaning and picking up after themselves. Ask a family member if they can do the groceries this week or do the dishes every day........ect. Whatever it is that you need help with please don't be afraid to ask someone. The people that love you will love to help you.
5. Start saying NO. Chances are if you are feeling stress you could be the type of person who does not say no when you can. When you personally don't want to do something (if it is something that does not have to be done or someone else can do it) you have to be true to yourself and say no. Please stop over burdening yourself with things that you don't have to do. If you keep on doing them your body will someday make you take a rest, and that could mean being in a hospital for weeks.
6. Pin point were the stress is coming from. Analyze exactly what it is that gives you the most stress. Do what you can to resolve that situation and after all your best efforts, if the situation is still causing you to feel stressed you may have to walk away from that all together. For example an abusive spouse or a stressful job. Sometimes you have to do what is best for your mental health.
7. Start taking B-complex and antioxidant vitamins. Deficiency of B vitamins increase stress related problems and are associated with the nervous system. Talk to your doctor about the amount of B-vitamins you should take for your certain symptoms.