MANAGING STRESS
Chronic stress is more than just an attitude or a bad day-it's a medical problem with very real consequences, and the odds are very good that you suffer those consequences in your own life. In fact, experts say that most visits to doctors are related to stress and stress-based problems.1 According to a recent survey by NBC, three out of four people in America experience heightened stress every week;1 a similar survey by BUPA, a health insurance company, found that one out of three working women has taken a day off from work for stress-related reasons.2 Some of the more common results of stress are hair loss, memory loss, high blood pressure, asthma, headaches, diabetes, insomnia, depression, obesity, and even heart disease.

THE BRIGHT SIDE
Despite that ominous list of side effects, dealing with stress can be surprisingly easy-it is, after all, a natural and vital part of being alive. Stress can come from any source that brings change-even if that change is positive, such as a wedding, a new baby, or a school graduation. Stress can even be a desirable thing because it creates energy and prompts you to action; any time you set a goal or make a decision, you are creating positive stress. Just remember that the cause of the stress doesn't matter nearly as much as the way you react to it.

By changing the way you deal with stress you can keep it at low, manageable levels. Repeated studies have shown that cheerful people live longer than somber people by as much as 11 years, and the quality of those years is significantly higher. Just as high levels of stress can impact your body negatively, high levels of happiness can impact it positively.

CALM DOWN
The first way to deal with stress is to relax. Take a step back and identify which aspects of your life cause stress. Try to resolve your emotions with reason. Some people find that keeping a diary helps them release tension and take stock of their lives. It sounds simple, but you'd be amazed at the difference it makes.

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE
Most people feel stress because they lack control over their situations, or because their goals are at odds with their actions. Once you've identified the parts of your life that cause stress, redirect your attention to the things you can change and then take steps to change them. Evaluate your limits and your priorities, and make sure the two are working together instead of against each other.

TALK ABOUT IT
A supportive friend or spouse can make all the difference in coping with stress. When you talk about stress you're releasing tension verbally rather than physically-you're creating a sense of closure that your lifestyle might not give you in any other way.7 Other people also have the benefit of perspective-they're outside of your situation and can help you see beyond the stress in a more objective way.