Got Stress? Get RELIEF!

Are you overwhelmed with problems that are creating a stressful life? Some common causes of stress are: • Financial problems
• Relationship issues
• Loss of employment
• Children with social and emotional problems
• Family members with addictions
• Elderly parents or grandchildren living in the home
• Existing health issues
• Illness or loss of a loved one
• Career and business conce
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Stress can cause some very common health-related problems including fatigue, insomnia, high blood pressure, cancer, stroke, heart attacks and other illnesses. Unless you take control and learn how to manage the stress, it may lead to chronic illness and sudden death.

The 6 Steps of Stress RELIEF can help you gain control of what is causing you stress and help you lead a more peaceful life.

1. RELAX – The key to learning how to relax is that you have to make the conscious effort to do it. Whether it is deep breathing exercises, meditation or Yoga, your mind has to consciously tell your body to relax. Using specific relaxation techniques can help you control anxiety and fear, feel more at ease and even help you sleep at night.

2. EXERCISE - Physical exercise is the good kind of stress that our bodies need, and has proved to positively impact overall wellbeing. However, it is important to remember to exercise your mind, as well. This could be in the form of reading or in the form of mental exercises such as puzzles and brain teasers, or researching a favorite topic. You can use your creative imagination to write a story, poem, article or even a book.

3. LIVE, LOVE and LAUGH – Live and enjoy life. You may have a lot of stress going on in your life right now, but when you focus on the positive aspects of your life, things begin to turn around.

Love your family, friends and those close to you. Show gratitude and appreciation everyday for the little things they do.

Laugh and have fun. Watch a funny television show or rent a comedy movie. Play a game with your family and discover ways to laugh with them.

4. INNER PEACE - Ways that you can find inner peace are through meditation, faith and spirituality. These are more personal and include methods that really resonate with you, such as going to church or meditating at home. Whatever your religious or spirituality preference, connect with that higher being that you trust. Having faith that things will get better will help bring more peace to your life.

5. ENVIRONMENT – This strategy is critical to your emotional well-being, and encompasses a variety of areas in your life. If you have clutter around the house, papers needing to be filed, dishes in the sink or laundry to be folded, this can cause stress. Your physical environment can have a dramatic impact on how you function throughout the day. Excessive noise in your environment can create anxiety and increase stress levels due to the inability to concentrate effectively on projects and tasks.

Your environment can cause illness as well. You may have dust, mold and mildew that you cannot see that may be creating significant health issues for you. Studies are also indicating that high electromagnetic fields from wiring in your home, computers and appliances, can cause health problems. Make an effort to evaluate your environment and take corrective measures to make it safe and healthy for you and your family.

6. FAMILY and FRIENDS, or other support systems – People who have support systems to help them through difficult times are much more likely to experience a reduction in their stress. Family and friends can help you find solutions to problems, but also act as a sounding board for venting frustrations and offering emotional and sometimes financial support when needed.

In addition to family and friends, hiring a coach or participating in coaching groups, buddy programs or support groups can provide you with an effective format for managing your stress. Getting a coach is a means of establishing a collaborative relationship that will lead to the discovery of stress management strategies that are most suitable for you.

Make a list of those strategies you are going to implement and put them into action. By doing so, you are inviting gratitude, balance and tranquility into your life.