STRESS ! It is one of the biggest challenges in our frantic fast-paced world. Whether you are trying to make a deadline at work, you are an overextended mom juggling too many projects, a chronic worrier, or just feel like the pressure is too much, you may be stretched to your breaking point.  You are not alone ! It has been suggested that at least half of all trips adults take to the doctor are some how related to stress. Constantly operating at high stress levels can lead to serious physical consequences. Among them are hypertension, ulcers, anxiety disorders, depression, and heart disease, just to name a few. Too much stress can rob you of your health, vitality, and peace of mind. Managing stress (Decompressing) as we will call it, can be easier than you think if you have the tools. In this section we will give you ideas and the plan you need to start that process. In our Recreation section, we will have weekly articles and tips, as well as links to some of the greatest ways to de-stress today.

Ok so you find yourself stressed out more than not. You don't know how to deal with it all sometimes and it's spilling over into other areas of your life. What do you do ? Here are some great ideas.

#1 learn to seperate work and home- often times we bring our work home with us mentally and can't turn it off and our home life suffers as a result.

#2 Exercise- little works as well as working off your stress with a long walk or sweating out the tension with a good workout.

#3 Breathing exercises-Doing deep breathing exercises will do several things for you. It will oxygenate the blood and wake up the brain,relax the muscles and quiet the mind. These exercises are especially good as they can be done anywere and anytime. For some great breathing exercises check out our self defence page.

#4 Listen to music-The right music can lower your blood pressure , relax your body, and calm your mind. Find a quiet place and unwind.

#5 Meditation-Meditation can affect the body in exactly the opposite ways that stress does, by restoring the body to a calm state, helping the body to repair itself, and preventing new damage due to the physical effects of stress. Learning to meditate requires a little patience but  the time and effort it takes to learn and practice is well worth it in terms of the benefits it provides. Buy a good book on meditation at your local book store and start today the benifts will be seen right away.

#6 Spend time in nature-Getting out in nature in a simplier enviroment can slow us down ,relax us ,and take stressful thoughts off our minds. A great way as well is spending time with our pets. Studies have shown that people have had amazing inprovement with all sorts of conditions when cats and dogs are brought to them and they just pet them for a time.

#7 Manage your stress-Avoid people that stress you out or limit the time you spend with them. Learn to say no. Personal or professional don't let people push more on you when you are overloaded already. This will be a sure way to reduce your stress level.

#8 Read a book-Getting lost in another world in a good book can help you forget all about your current stresses for a while and leave you feeling refreshed. Check out the books & reading page in the recreation section for some great ideas. Grab a good book and let go !