Just Steam and Stress Less

According to the National Health Interview Survey, 75% of the general population experiences at least “some stress” every two weeks and half of those experience high levels of stress during the same two week period. With all of the effects stress has on a person, psychologically and physiologically, it is important to understand the implications it has and it’s critical for you to become capable of dealing with it effectively. Effects of Stress on Physical Health The American Medical Association stated that 80% of all human illnesses are the result of stress. Bearing this fact in mind, dealing with stress effectively can be a life saving skill that could drastically improve your overall quality of life. When a person is under a lot of stress, the brain releases chemicals giving the body an instant boost to combat and survive the stressful circumstance. Unfortunately many people in today’s society constantly put their bodies under this stress causing them to suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, chest pains or strokes. The release of these chemicals also prevents the body from sleeping properly, resulting in slower thinking and other side effects such as depression, which in turn can lead to other problems such as alcohol abuse. When the body is under stress it is more susceptible to illnesses and diseases such as pneumonia and cancer as the immune system is weakened. When an individual dies from an illness such as a heart attack, doctors point the cause of death on the heart attack, but in all reality the heart attack was caused by other reasons such as an unhealthy life style and / or stress. Effects of Stress on the Economy According to the HSE (Health & Safety Executive), 6 million working days are lost each year in the UK through stress related problems. This costs the employer between £530-£545 per annum, as stated by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Visit the HSE for more information: http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards/. Learning to Relax One of the best ways to combat stress is to relax and unwind. Everybody has their own way of relaxing, therefore it is important that you find a method of relaxing that suits you. Some of the more popular ways to relax and unwind are: * Running, jogging or taking a long walk * Listening to restful music * Receive or give a massage * Participate in an active sport * Visit the park * Practice yoga * Eat organic natural food * Ride a bicycle for pleasure * Read * Sunbathe or have a nap * Play a musical instrument * Use a hot tub, steam room or sauna / infrared sauna Use a steam shower or sauna Steam showers and saunas are well known for their relaxing properties and provide the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Saunas and steam showers can be found in health clubs nationwide, however, steam showers and saunas are becoming more popular in homes as they become more mainstream and affordable. A daily steam shower or a sauna session can really melt away stress and lighten the toxic burden on your body, revitalising and enlivening it. Mohamed Abou Donia, Ph.D from the Duke University Medical Centre conducted a study which showed how stress can turn normally harmless chemicals in the body, dangerous. Dr. Mohamed Abou Donia says that even short term exposure to specific chemicals, just 28 days, when combined with stress caused widespread cellular damage in the brain and liver of rats (http://medschool.duke.edu/). Considering the adverse effects on the body both stress and chemicals can have, it’s critical to detoxify and reduce the stressful burden. Chemicals are rampant in today’s society: they are found in the foods we eat, the liquids we drink and the air we breathe. Whenever you feel stress, a home steam shower or sauna is never far away to provide an instant escape. Steam showers heat up within minutes and use very little energy to operate, making them the choice for those seeking stress relief and physical well being. Just sit down and feel the warmth of the steam loosen all the muscles in your body, revitalising, making you feel brand new and fresh. The soothing warmth causes the body to sweat out harmful toxins and flush out the pores, giving your skin a clean glow. For those who have never seen a steam shower, or are interested in more information / articles or purchasing one, visit steam shower specialist Di Vapor: http://www.divapor.com.
About The Author
Written by David Daniel on behalf of Di Vapor http://www.divapor.com, the steam shower, infrared sauna and whirlpool bath specialist.

Stress Management: It's a Matter of Life and Health

It's common sense that we all need to manage our stress. But, did you know that managing stress effectively is a matter of life and of health? The Stress Response is a series of biochemical events in the human body designed to help a person respond to some sense of danger in the environment. This reaction is intended to help mobilize the body to respond to the danger through either Fight or Flight. While this response serves us well when we are in immediate danger (like when a car is coming straight at us and we need to get out of the way quickly), it has significant negative effects on health when it happens frequently and over a long period of time. Prolonged exposure to the stress response creates and/or aggrevates many health conditions. Heart conditions, muscular pain, gastrointestinal illness, dysfunctions of the reproductive system, breathing difficulties, skin problems and immune system functions are all negatively impacted by chronic stress. That's the bad news....the good news is that active relaxation for a mere 10-15 minutes a day can reduce the negative impact of stress and create a positive Relaxation Response that will reduce blood pressure, slow breathing rate and increase blood flow to muscles (i.e. reduce muscular pain). Relaxation and meditation can also reduce the symptoms of pre-existing medical conditions, such as fatigue, depression, anxiety, and muscular pain. Here's an easy way to start increasing your relaxation today. Do this exercise for 5 minutes 2-3 times throughout your day: 1. Select a comfortable sitting position. 2. Close your eyes and direct your attention to your own breathing process. 3. Put your thumb on your navel and lower the palm of your hand down onto your belly. Breathe into your nose as if you are smelling flowers. You will notice your belly rise as you breathe in. Breathe out as if you were blowing out birthday candles. You will notice your belly fall as you breathe out. 4. Focus on your breathing. Notice the cool air as it enters your nose and the warm air as it leaves your mouth. If thoughts come, notice them briefly and then redirect your attention to your breath. Imagine your thoughts floating away on a cloud and know that you can always get back to them later. 5. After 5 minutes, stand and stretch before proceeding with your day. The take home message: We plan for every situation - we have a financial plan, a home emergency plan, a vacation plan, a health insurance plan - Make sure to have a self-care plan! If you plan to care for your health and manage your stress level now, you will save yourself much distress later.
About The Author
Dr. Irina Kerzhnerman is a Licensed Psychologist in Deerfield Beach, FL. Her private practice focuses on helping people identify and manage their stress, coaching people to figure out what they truly want out of life, and motivating them to get it. For more information on how Dr. Irene can help you, please visit http://www.drireneonline.com or call (954) 692-3570 for a free 30-minute phone consultation.

5 Natural Stress Relief Techniques for Children

Is your child stressed out? Some people think only adults experience stress, but it affects our children too. Here's how to help your child manage their emotions. We often view our kids as happy-go-lucky beings without a care. But children can also experience stress. Not only do they get anxious about things in their own young world--school, friends, peer pressure--but they also can be deeply affected by outside factors such as war, natural disasters and other unsettling world events. In fact, the list of contributors to childhood stress can be quite long. Many stressors are the result of family problems, like divorce, a death or a parent's job loss but there are also less obvious triggers such as moving to a new city or the birth of a new sibling. As a parent, you can become attuned to what's a normal amount of anxiety for your child and what is not. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, use the following tools to help your child handle it better. Tuning into Anxiety Attack symptoms 1. Tune in to their moods. Pay attention to your child's behavior. Take the time to talk to your child to get to the root of the problem. Ask questions like "How are you feeling?" "What's happening at school?" or "How are things with your friends?" When you show concern for their problems and issues, it's reassuring to them and they'll be more responsive to that attention. 2. Watch the same shows they do. If you have younger children, you certainly don't want them watching the doom and gloom of daily news shows. Children's minds are like sponges in they absorb almost everything they see or hear. They are especially sensitive to negative energy, pain or suffering. Shows like the news can be traumatizing and anxiety-producing for younger children. It's important to discuss with them what they've seen. You can't tell them that it's never going to happen to them but you can say,"We're going to do everything we can to protect you". It's also a good idea to let them know whom to call and what to do in case of an emergency. 3. Focus on the positive. There is obviously no way a child can be shielded from a major trauma such as a death in the family, a house fire or a natural disaster. Instead, help children count their blessings. Comfort and reassure them by saying, "We're strong and we're going to make it." "And as difficult as it may be, try to maintain everyday routines. For many young victims of floods or fire, for example, going back to school, even in another city, can help bring some normalcy back to their disrupted lives. What can also help is to make sure children have positive outlets like physical activity, going to the movies or spending time with friends. 4. Lead by example. Children often learn to deal with stress by mimicking how you respond in challenging times. Even if you don't tell your child that you're about to be laid off from your job or that you're worried that your marriage is on the verge of breaking up, they can still pick up on your stress. They may not understand the underlying causes but they can hear the strained tone and elevated volume of your voice,which gives them the message that something's going on that may affect them too. That's why it's so important to show them good coping skills. If you light a cigarette, have a drink, or use foul language when you're under pressure, your little one may internalize that as a coping method. Instead, model healthy behavior during difficult times, such as writing in a journal, de-stressing in a hot bath, sharing how you feel without blaming, or taking a walk. 5. Instill confidence. When children are young, there are times when you will have to come to their defense and help them handle tough situations. But as they get older, you also have to let them champion themselves, which builds their confidence in their ability to resolve problems on their own. One of your missions as a parent is to know when to step in and when to stand back. Your response will depend on the child's temperament, maturity and the situation. For example, your third grader may be able to confront a taunting classmate on their own, but a serious case of bullying may warrant your intervention. Still, always make sure your child knows you've got their back. Tell them, "Try it on your own first,but if you need help,let me know and I'll be there." To Your Great Life and Health...
About The Author
Michael Atma is an internationally known author, speaker & success coach. Known as the person to talk to when you're ready to enjoy massive results, Michael offers simple yet proven strategies to improve the quality of your life in just minutes. Michael's writing comes straight from the front line of good health and successful living Michael Atma had helped thousands of people to enjoy the benefits of natural stress relief that meditation brings. Michael has developed "The Ultimate Relaxation Program" which includes his highly acclaimed stress relief CD – The Ultimate Relaxation! FREE details:=> http://www.theultimaterelaxation.com

Stress Management Secrets for Relationships

Imagine how your life might be if you knew how to finally stop the stress in relationships that saps your strength, drains your energy and ruins your productivity! Until you have released the need for judgment, you will always have it reflected back to you in your relationships. This is one of the main causes of stress. All too often we assume that we know what others mean by what they say or do without bothering to gain a clear understanding of what's really going on. This inevitably leads to a breakdown in communication and conflict. Stress Management Technique 1 The biggest secret to stress free relationships is to master the skill of being agreeable! If you think about it just for a moment this makes a lot of sense. How did you feel the last time someone disagreed with what you though, said or did? Did you thank them, give them a big hug and then ask for more disapproval? Probably not! The bottom line is that people don't like being disagreed with. This is what leads to arguments and conflict. You have a choice every time you relate with another person. You can either be agreeable in nature and in communication or you can be disagreeable. The first choice will cause people to be more relaxed and enjoy your company. The second creates stress and frustration. It costs nothing to agree with someone else's point of view even if you think it's ridiculous. Who are we to judge how another person views their life and the world around them. Conflict always arises from disagreement's which then leads to power struggles. This means that either one or all parties are trying to prove that they are right and someone else is wrong. This is a no win scenario because if one person is made wrong, then the outcome is tension and resentment. More Stress Management Tips So what do you do if you disagree with what someone is saying? Ask if it's ok to share your opinion. If the answer is no, then to keep your relationships stress free keep your mouth shut. Changes topics if you need to or go do something fun together but let it go and move on. Stress Management Tecchnique 2 - Master the skill of understanding. The key here is to learn to be a good listener. Can you remember a time recently when you were talking with someone and they either interrupted you before you finished talking and started talking about themselves or completely ignored what you said and talked about something totally unrelated? I know that's happened to me thousands of times. Well guess what, if you didn't like it I can guarantee you that others won't like it if you do it to them. By listening attentively to what others say and not interrupting you will prevent the possibility of causing stress and tension in your relationships because the people you are communicating with will feel seen and heard. This builds trust and respect which are two of the most important ingredients of a happy, healthy and productive relationship. Here are 4 Stress Managment Skills to master the art of listening with the intent to understand... 1. Don't interrupt unless you have something urgent to attend to. Then excuse yourself politely and make a time to meet with them that you can give your undivided attention. 2. Look them in the eye and keep your body language open 3. Only ask questions that are relevant to the topic. This lets the person who is talking know that you are really listening to them. 4. Never assume you know what someone means, always ask for clarity before sharing you're opinion. Don't be afraid to keep asking questions until you are 100% sure about what is being said. The only time to try and get others to understand you is after you have understood them. Then they are more receptive to what you have to say. This skill is one of the most important in building good bonds between people that are stress free. There is nothing more powerful than letting others know that they matter. The final word on stress relief in relationships Happy, healthy and stress free relationships are no accident. They are skillfully developed over time by people who care about people. These secrets will only work if you apply them. The more you apply them, the less stress you will have in your relationships. I know this for a fact because they have been working for me for more than 15 years. To Your Great Life and Health...
About The Author
Michael Atma is an internationally known author, speaker & success coach. Known as the person to talk to when you're ready to enjoy massive results, Michael offers simple yet proven strategies to improve the quality of your life in just minutes. Michael's writing comes straight from the front line of good health and successful living Exactly how are some people learning to enjoy calmer, happier and healthier relationships? Michael Atma has created the ultimate guide - '101 Strategies for a Stress Free Life!' FREE Details: http://www.theultimaterelaxation.com

Less Stress Leads To A Better Rest

In the modern world of today we are constantly being bombarded with high levels of stress and anxiety. These stresses can be physical, mental or environmental. They place an enormous strain on our physical and mental health. Most of us are aware that excessive stress can affect our ability to think straight, our digestive system, adrenal glands and heart. Research has however shown that whenever a stressful situation arises, there is a knock on effect. Firstly stress limits the blood supply going to the stomach, this hampers the digestive system and a temporary shut down of our immune system may follow. If we are overwhelmed with stress for an extended period we are likely to experience fatigue and exhaustion. Although it may not be possible to avoid these stress factors in our lives there is help available. There are many natural herbal supplements, known for they’re relaxing properties which assist in combating the harmful effects of anxiety and stress. Several herbs are usually incorporated together to make a powerful formula. We will take a look at some of the individual herbs, which go to make up some of these potent anti- anxiety supplements: - * Jujube Seeds: - hypnotic and anti-anxiety effect used for hysteria, fatigue, sleeplessness, debility and restlessness. * Magnolia Bark: - has anti anxiety, anti stress properties, lowers the cortisol, promotes relaxation and improves the mood. * Potassium: -sustains the fluid and electrolyte balance, discharges energy from carbohydrate, protein and fat, assists in conveying nerve impulses. * Magnesium: -is a trace mineral and its chief role is manufacturing and transporting energy, relaxing and contracting the muscles, assisting some enzymes with their task in the body and mixing proteins. * Valerian Root: - It supports a feeling of calmness, improves sleep, reduces anxiety levels and facilitates relaxation of the central nervous system. Valerian root is non addictive and does not cause morning tiredness. It also is useful in slowing the heart in those who have the condition known as tachycardia. * Melatonin: -is one of the most dominant antioxidants in the brain. It restores metabolism, improves the quality of sleep and slows down degenerative diseases of the brain such as Parkinson’s. Melatonin can control extreme cortical production and is therefore effectual in reducing stress levels and regulating sleep cycles. * Vitamin B complex contains Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12 are all essential vitamins for the nervous system Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com
About The Author
Vincent Platania represents the Rawleigh Products. W.T. Rawleigh founded Rawleigh Products in the late 1800s to create a line of products that possessed both strength and quality. Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com

Get Creative to Relieve Stress

There are many things we can do to relieve stress, ranging from small routine changes (such as avoiding rush hour traffic) to large drastic life changes (such as quitting our stressful jobs!). At the smaller end of the scale, I believe one of the best ways that you can relieve stress is to 'get creative'. What can you do to get creative? Anything you like, as long as 'you' do the creating! It could be physical or mental creativity (preferably both), big or small. For example, is it about time you changed your garden around? Changed those dull old patio slabs? Now would be a good idea to get creative. To relieve stress you have to do something you can be proud of. You need to be able to stand back and say to yourself, `Yep, I did that and I did a terrific job'. Take the example above, if you're not physically able (and would have to employ someone to do the labouring for you) you could still design the garden yourself! Teach yourself a little about landscape gardening and design the best garden you can. If you are able to labour for yourself, design and build it entirely yourself! And most important of all, give yourself a pat on the back once you've finished and be proud of your hard work. But it doesn't have to be so big (or so expensive). You could make a model aeroplane, do your own painting, and make something from clay, or anything at all. One of my friends recently bought his own materials and built a magnificent kite! He said it felt great to finish it, but when he stood back and actually saw his achievement (i.e. when it was flying) he felt truly elated. Now that's stress relief! Form a personal point of view, having suffered with a phobia of public speaking for so long, I always wanted to set up my own website - to be able to communicate in another way, freely, without the troubles I would usually have. When I eventually found a way to set up my site the pride and sense of achievement I felt was enormous. And with that pride and achievement came the stress relief I was after. So from the examples above I hope you can see how you too can get creative to relive stress. The list of things you could do is endless. Now it's time for the hard part. . . getting started!
About The Author
(c) Paul Evans Helping those who suffer with anxiety, phobias, panic disorders, stress, and all things related. Suffer with an anxiety disorder or phobia, and the stress that comes with it? For more information and directions to the latest self-help techniques, be sure to visit my website at http://www.love-my-phobia.com

How to Cope with Stress

Stress can be addictive, contagious, debilitating, or invigorating. Relentless pressure to perform, personality conflicts, and lack of a sense of purpose can be damaging over time. Identify the causes, learn to control harmful stress, and use healthy stress to your advantage. Feeling Burned Out More than 50% of 2,500 workers who responded to a survey acknowledged that they work under a great deal of stress More then 75% of the respondents said that they feel burned out Causes of Stress 16% attribute the stress to difficult co-workers 15% attribute stress to unrealistic workloads 11% attribute stress to unreasonable deadlines 10% attribute stress to rushed projects 9% attribute the stress directly to the management Stress statistics courtesy of CareerBuilder.com and the American Institute of Stress (stress.org) Stress Addiction Are you addicted to stress? Is your organization addicted to stress? Let's be honest, some individuals and some organizations perform better under stressful conditions. Some organizations nurture a stressful culture as a means to continually pressure maximum performance with minimum manpower. Some other organizations leverage the energy associated with bursts of focused stress to overcome significant obstacles, and then minimize stress in between major hurdles to maintain a balanced workforce. How can you tell the difference? Procrastination in dealing with important tasks is sometimes an indication of personal stress addiction. Some individuals acknowledge better performance under tight deadlines and stressful situations. In some cases this helps to focus on a project and ignore external distractions. If this applies to you, then perhaps it is time to reevaluate your schedule, your personal goals, and your workload. By setting personal goals as commitments to complete projects or workload ahead of schedule, you can create your own deadlines and get ahead of the curve. Procrastination may be a sign that the workload is too light and you need to take on more responsibilities, or challenge yourself with more personal tasks. This will create an environment of balanced stress that you can manage by increasing or decreasing personal additional tasks to accommodate required or assigned workloads. This does not mean that putting things off until the last minute is always a sign of stress addiction. If you continually put things off to the last minute and the quality of the result is equivalent or worse to the product that would have been achieved earlier, then you are just being lazy and you need a stress inducing boss to get you moving. On the other hand, if items are continually addressed at the last minute simply because you have too many other priorities that take precedence and it is virtually impossible to catch up, then you have an unhealthy stressful environment and it is time to evaluate the conditions. Have you ever experienced an organization that continually threatens potential layoffs, cancellation of contracts, or incessantly proclaims gloom and doom of current conditions? While organizations may perform better under short bursts of highly focused stressful conditions, it is not something that can be sustained effectively for long periods of time. Individuals within the organization will react differently to stressful conditions and will burn out at varying periods of time. After a period of high intensity it is necessary to allow a period for cooling down, refreshing and reenergizing the troops. Healthy Stress The objective of healthy stress is to have specific focused goals with measurable targets and schedules. Healthy stress should create an atmosphere of teamwork and cooperation to achieve specific goals. If it is an extended schedule, then there should also be milestones to identify progress along the way. If it is a short deadline then there should be clearly identified resources for support. At the end of the schedule there should be a recognized period to temporarily relax, recognize the accomplishment and recharge the batteries. After all, not everyone is addicted to stress, but nearly everyone can use the short bursts of adrenaline that come with intense concentration toward a common goal. Healthy stress provides rich rewards as a result. The rewards may be a sense of personal achievement, a sense of camaraderie, or monetary compensation. The type of reward is not necessarily as important as the recognition of the reward. If there is no reward for the stress, or if the outcome is detrimental to an individual or group, then the stress is not healthy and needs to be addressed promptly. Nurture healthy stress with teamwork, clearly communicated schedules, and easily recognized rewards. Unhealthy Stress Some of the leading causes of unhealthy stress are the result of individual personalities infecting an organization. This can be caused by an overbearing boss, a lack or respect or trust for certain members in management, or by unrealistic expectations. Even the best of intentions can create unhealthy stress if it is based on unrealistic expectations. Stress can be slowly introduced if management expects everyone to automatically share the same level of passion, enthusiasm and commitment without first creating bonds and buy in with the employees. Employees will not feel the same amount of passion if there is not a personal connection or a sense of purpose. It is reasonable to require performance, but management should not expect passion without first making an investment in the employee. Individual employees can also create stress and distraction. Personality conflicts are depicted as difficult coworkers, and typically the perception is a shared one. Difficult coworkers may be described as overbearing, subversive, interfering, unproductive, or uncooperative. These are dangerous labels for one person to place on another. The labels are most often the result of specific actions or comments. It may not be reasonable to expect that every personality will get along, but it is reasonable to require professional respect and cooperation. The first step in correcting this type of unhealthy stress is not to change people's opinions, but rather to address the actions, responsibilities and expectations of the individuals involved. Keep the focus on the professional requirements and communicate precise expectations, then assess the actions. Unhealthy stress in an organization can be caused when the atmosphere is continually threatening, overbearing and unrelenting. Stress with purpose is like an adrenaline rush during a short sprint to the finish line. Stress without purpose and without end is like running an engine at full speed and never stopping to refill the tank, you are bound to hit a brick wall or empty your tank eventually. It is far better to plan for the short sprints and the breaks to refill the tank than to find yourself stranded. Thrive on Stress Pick your priorities. Remember your purpose - write down your goals and keep them visible. Set your schedule and allow some flexibility for the unexpected emergencies. Communicate your obligations and identify your resources. Ask for and acknowledge the responsibilities of others, then be prepared to support one another when appropriate. If there is a personality conflict, turn the focus to professional respect and responsibilities, or address the matter with appropriate professional communication when necessary. Identify the time of day and days of the week that you perform best under pressure, and be aware that everyone else may be different from your peak periods. Schedule your periods for managing the pressure and allow yourself periods for cooling down, being creative, or relaxing. When possible, do something physical before preparing to address a stressful situation, even if it is only a short walk. When necessary, take a short walk or a few moments to clear you mind after a stressful period so the intense concentration or emotions do not spill over into your other activities. Laugh, and most important, do not be so critical that you can not laugh at yourself. ______________________________________________________ Words of Wisdom "Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it." - Jane Wagner "If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment." - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus "Before you agree to do anything that might add even the smallest amount of stress to your life, ask yourself: What is my truest intention? Give yourself time to let a yes resound within you. When it's right, I guarantee that your entire body will feel it." - Oprah Winfreyr
About The Author
John Mehrmann is a freelance author and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. http://www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com