Know Yourself

April is Stress Awareness Month! Do you really think anyone out there that is not aware of stress? Stress is literally killing us, our families and our planet. STRESS is THE EPIDEMIC OF THE 21ST CENTURY. Our only hope for treating this disease is recognizing and managing it in our daily lives. Managing stress means knowing what triggers your stress response, the symptoms of your stress response and the solutions to help you deal with your stress.nnTriggers. Each of us is quite different and has different stress triggers. For some it may be a messy house or someone being late. For others it could be someone talking loud or talking too much. Knowing what triggers your stress response is your first step. Get a pen and paper write down your triggers. Don’t forget to ask your friends and coworkers when they notice you getting stressed. That is great information you need to know.nnSymptoms: Each of us has different symptoms. There are physical symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal problems, your heart racing or your breathing changing. Emotional symptoms may be anger, aggressiveness or feelings of anxiety. Relational symptoms may be you withdrawing from people, volatility with others or shutting down.nnSolutions. There are four research based solutions that are easy to remember. S.E.L.F. Care. When your stress is triggered quickly spend a few minutes doing one of these stress reduction options. S means serenity. Stop and take a deep breath, do a couple yoga stretches or listen to your favorite music for a few minutes. E means exercise. Excuse yourself from the situation and walk up and down the stairs or around the building for a few minutes. L means love. Text, call or email someone you love. When you connect and talk with someone who cares, this can de-stress your. F is for food. Keep B6, stress reducing foods around. Simple foods like a banana, turkey, sunflower seeds or a glass of milk can calm you down.nnYou can help spread the word that April is stress awareness month. Share these valuable tips with your family, friends and coworkers. Let’s help each other learn how to live in this stressful world with real joy.