A friend once asked “how do you do it?” “How do you keep going?” My answer was always “I don’t know.” The reality is I did know. I had no choice. When faced with a major life event, I programmed myself to take one day at a time. I convinced myself that the situation would not last forever. I learned to deal with the facts and to temper my emotions.
This is an excerpt from my new e-book Stress is Personal; Your Personal Starter Guide to Stress Relief. I wrote this starter guider to share some of the actions I have learned and currently use to relieve my stress. I am sitting here writing this and smiling because my outlook is so different now. I wish I had known how to relieve my stress 18 years ago. I would probably weigh 50 pounds lighter.
Stress contributes to weight gain and makes it difficult to lose. It also affects the way the body stores and uses fat.
Stress is caused by a physical reaction to a stimulus. We were taught to call this reaction the “fight or flight” response. Think back to your elementary school science lesson. You were probably shown pictures of a cave man fighting off a predator. The science teacher taught the caveman reacted to the threat and without thinking poised himself to fight or flee. It was all about survival.
The part of our brain that triggers the “fight or flight” response is still very active. Researchers have found that “fight or flight” is triggered whenever we encounter any kind of stressor. The stress response is initiated when we encounter a real threat or a perceived threat.
Sad, scary, happy or exciting occasions all trigger the stress response. The thing is we experience these types of occasions all the time. We also experience minor stress triggers like aggressive drivers, unexpected flat tires, or broken card machines. We have become desensitized to the effect and no longer recognize how it feels to be unstressed.
Well, stress is personal and it is not enough to be told to “just relax.” Telling yourself or being told to “just relax” only makes you more stressed.
The 36 page starter guide shares information about stress and how it affects you personally. It contains real life situations and actions that you can take to relieve stress when you are in the midst of stressful situations.
Learning to relieve my stress in healthy ways has made a positive difference in my life. I wanted to share what I have learned because I think it will make a difference in yours as well.
I invite you to download your free copy of “Stress is Personal; Your Personal Starter Guide to Stress Relief.” This 36 page guide will give you activities that will help you to prevent, manage, and relieve overwhelming stress.
For more suggestions, join the “Get Through the Day Without Losing It” 7 Day Challenge. Go beyond counting to 10 when you are pushed to the limit. Learn healthy ways to calm your mind and relax your body in 30 minutes or less. Click here to sign up and receive your first session.
Marcyline Bailey created the Happy Half Hour Club for “hardworking professionals who want to be happy.” We provide stress relieving tips and techniques to calm your mind and relax your body in 30 minutes or less. Join our Facebook group to share comments, questions, and suggestions or to just say hello. Click here to receive tips directly in your inbox.