Choose Health

Everyone experiences stress as a part of life. 

The pressures of time, money, and relationships ensure that stress will ALWAYS be with us.

Reactions to stress vary and can take their toll, both mentally and physically.  Some of the common stress symptoms include:

• Tense muscles that cause headache, backache, neckache, or jaw ache;
• Stomach pain, indigestion, bowel upset, ulcers;
• Anxiety, nervousness, tension, depression;
• Anger, irritability, restlessness or exhaustion.

Managing stress is IMPORTANT not only for your health, but also for successful relations in your personal life or at work.

Here are some coping skills for Stress Management:

• Get organized - organizing the details of daily life reduces stress.  Plan, schedule, and keep good records or a calendar or a 'to do' list.
• Do it now - doing the most difficult or least pleasant tasks at the beginning of the day when you are fresh can avoid the stress of worrying about them all day.
• Know YOUR limits - be realistic about what you can accomplish.  Planning you goals can even out those stressful peaks and valleys.
• Change YOUR attitude - train yourself to see stressful situations as 'challenges' rather than obstacles.
• Talk it over - talking about difficult issues with a friend or family member can help reduce stress and also possibly help you form a 'solution'.
• Take a break - a little break in the middle of a stressful situation can give you a new prospective on the problem.  Take a moment to clear your mind.
• Learn to say "NO" - "I have a hard time with this one, so you're not alone".  There will always be some demands over which you have no control.  However, separate these from activities over which you DO have control and learn to say "no" to unreasonable demands.
• Use positive self-talk - in the face of a stressful situation you can manage with positive statements, such as, "I CAN handle this ONE STEP AT A TIME".
• TREAT YOUR BODY RIGHT - "I can't say this enough".  You will be better equipped to handle stress if you each a balanced diet, get enough sleep and exercise REGULARLY.  "I know it's not easy - but - try, try, try again".
• Take charge - take RESPONSIBILITY for making YOUR life what YOU want it to be.