Health & Well-Being • January 2010 25
5 Ways to Banish Stress
Feeling a bit
calm.
1. Visualization: Many
stressed
people find meditation
or positive visualization a
good way to tame stress.
these days?
Envision a calm and
peaceful place and take
yourself there whenever
You're not alone.
you feel stress coming on.
Even quietly chanting that
the situation will pass soon
Approximately two-thirds of all visits
can help calm nerves.
to a family physician are stress-
related. While stress may seem like
2. Remove yourself from
something with which everyone must
the stressful situation:
cope, it's actually a very real medical
When possible, get away
condition and one that should be
from the stress for a few
taken seriously. Stress can be linked
moments. For example, if
to many major causes of death --
a work report is causing
heart disease, cancer, lung ailments,
you to tear your hair out,
accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and
leave the office, take a
suicide.
brief stroll and grab a
When under stress your brain sends snack. Coming back to the
messages to your body to release task rested and calm may
certain hormones, such as adrenaline bring a new perspective.
and cortisol. The hormones cause This can also work for a
your heart rate and blood pressure parent agitated by a child.
to rise, your muscles to tense up and Instead of putting the
your breathing to become short and child in a "time out," put
shallow. Your digestive and immune yourself in one instead.
systems shut down so that you can Find a quiet spot (even a
focus all your body's energy on the bathroom) and take a few
task at hand. Because the entire body deep breaths.
can be affected by stress, it's difficult
5. Talk to a doctor: Some bio-
to pinpoint one symptom that
3. Try exercise: Exercise can be very
feedback or counseling may guide
can be indicative of the condition.
good at pumping endorphins through
you through ways to alleviate stress.
Headaches, bodily aches and pains,
the body, which provide a feel-good
A family physician may also think it's
insomnia, anxiety, etc. –all of these
sensation. Exercise can also work the
a good idea to prescribe medication,
symptoms may be traced back to
tension out of the body and give your
primarily if stress is short-term from
stress.
mind something else to think about.
a traumatic event. You can work
with doctors to develop a program
Stress can affect personal and
that works for you and your overall
professional lives. Work has a
4. Do something you enjoy: Maybe
health.
significant impact on stress levels
you enjoy the pampering of a massage
and job insecurity is a major factor.
or pedicure, or the thrill of being out
In light of mass layoffs and economic
on the golf course. Turn your mind to
Stress is something everyone
uncertainty, job stress has taken on
a task you enjoy and take some time
experiences, but can be managed
even greater impact.
out to do it. A life balanced by work
with a variety of techniques. (MS)
So how does one handle stress? Here
and enjoyable activities could be less
are some suggestions for remaining
stressful.
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