Stress is a reaction, physical,mental,or emotional, to demands or changes in your life. Everyone is affected by stressful situations. It is easy to acknowledge that a major life change, such as losing one's job or a death in the family, causes stress. One can also " be stressed" with an accumulation of daily pressures,such as long commutes in traffic, a hectic work schedule,or disagreements with coworkers or family members. Your stress may be apparent to you and everyone else around you,or it may be hidden.

Stress,if continuous, can effect your physical, mental,and emotional well-being. The following information will help you recognize stress and learn positive coping mechanisms to reduce your risk of health problems.

Let us first take a look at what stress does to the body. When confronted by an alarming situation,our brain releases adrenaline and other chemicals which causes our heart rate and blood pressure to increase(moving blood to our muscles and brain), our breathing to become faster,our digestion to slow down,and we feel a sudden rush of energy.

When we perceive that the danger has passed,our brain stops producing the chemicals that causes the physical reactions, and our bodies return to their normal state. If we continue to react to the event,even after the event has passed, then our minds and our bodies stay in a state of alarm. If this state of tension is maintained,it can contribute to minor health problems and is thought to be associated with other more serious diseases.

The next step is to identify the sources of your stress and to write them down. Often the act of writing down your problems can be therapeutic as it may give you an opportunity to think through some possible solutions.

It will be easy for you to record your major life changes such as acquiring a new job, moving, getting divorced, losing your job. Be sure to include your daily stressors as well. Here are some examples:

Financial problems Lack of support Poor health Too much work Family problems Out of physical shape Boring work Not enough leisure time Poor diet Commuting to work Sexual problems Over/underweight Noisy environment Personality clashes No direction in life.