What are you Stressed About?

Understanding & Dealing with Stress What is Stress? Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. Exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems Pain of any kind Heart Disease Sleep Problems Depression Obesity Autoimmune disease Skin condition, eczema Top Ten Stressful Life Event Spouse's Death Divorce Marriage Separtion Jail Term Death of a Close Relative Injury or Illness Marriage Fired from Job Marriage reconcitation Retirement Common External Causes of Stress Major Life Changes Work Relationship Difficulties Financial Problems Being too busy Children and Family Common Internal Causes of Stress Inabilty to accept uncertainty Pessimism Negative Self Talk Unrealistic expectations Perfectionism Lack of assertiveness Ways to Cope with Stress The irony is that the best remedy for a busy lifestyle is sex. It relieves stress, helps you sleep better and maintains your connection with your guy, which can lead to less arguments, ergo less stress, explains Laurie Mintz, Ph.D, psychologist and author of 'A Tired Woman's Guide to Passionate Sex.' "The first step to recovery is to embrace and understand and believe that sex is an incredibly important part of life and relationships and marriage. ...it really is what differentiates [marriage] from a logistical partnership," Mintz points out. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing activate the body’s relaxation response, a state of restfulness that is the opposite of the stress response. When practiced regularly, these activities lead to a reduction in your everyday stress levels and a boost in your feelings of joy and serenity. They also increase your ability to stay calm and collected under pressure. By: Leanne & Kerry G.