Stress occurs when the pressures upon us exceed the resources we have to cope with them. So…we can tackle stress by decreasing the pressures or by increasing our coping resources. (hint: a combination of both works best!)

Imagine walking alone in a forest. You see a huge grizzly bear, on its hind legs. You begin to breathe fast. Instantly your pulse rate doubles and your blood pressure increases. Your mouth goes dry and you feel a sense of overall panic. A cascade of chemical reactions stimulate your body to perform above and beyond its normal capacity in order to save your life.

Now imagine your body when the bear finally lopes off into the woods. You are probably exhausted. This is the process your body goes through when you feel stressed.

Your body does not know the difference in degree of danger between a grizzly bear, an irate boss or an important deadline. At home, school or work, when stress kicks in, we receive the same physiological reactions in our bodies even though we are not faced with a true life or death situation. Isn’t that amazing?

Feeling worried and powerless can lead to depression. Long-term stress can create serious health problems. Here are just some examples…not to scare you but to inspire you to do something else:

• Stress alters heart rhythms, increases heart rate and constricts arteries…posing a risk for blocking blood flow to the heart.
• Stress causes blood to become stickier (possibly in preparation of potential injury) increasing the risk of blood clots.
• Chronic stress appears to blunt the immune response and increase the risk for infection.
• Stress is related to weight gain. Many people develop cravings for salt, fat and sugar to counteract tension.
• Chronic stress has been associated with developing insulin-resistance, a primary factor in diabetes.
• Tension headaches are highly associated with stress, sometimes initiating after the event.
• Stress can lead to diminished sexual desire, inability to achieve orgasm in women and temporary impotence in men.
• People under chronic stress often seek relief through drug or alcohol abuse, tobacco use, abnormal eating patterns or passive activities such as watching television.

With the combined powers of your subconscious mind, conscious mind and energy system you can resolve the dilemmas of your life easily and effectively. Your subconscious mind is the storage of all you have been and done. It’s an inner card catalog. Through hypnosis and guided imagery you can put it on “search mode” and it will take you exactly where you need to go. The energy system can be accessed with the appropriate keys. It is a system of energy pathways in your body. The ability to correct disruptions in these pathways, using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) will lead to eliminating not only the negative emotions that make up stress but many physical problems as well.

Until you can come in and learn these amazing techniques, here are some easy things you can do to restore some calm in your life.
 

Calming Stress in Your Body Slow down your breathing Visualize something good Go for a walk or play football Play upbeat music and dance Take a candlelit bath Have a massage or manicure	Calming Stress in Your Emotions Tell someone how you feel Write it down Draw how you feel (use colors) Watch a happy movie or video Phone a friend Cry
Calming Stress in Your Actions List out your priorities Finish one task before starting another Do something differently Look for a healthy role models and copy them Do some cooking, gardening or cleaning Wash the car	Calming Stress in Your Thoughts Read a book Make a plan Do a crossword puzzle or brain teaser List what is good in your life Plan to do something that makes you feel good Talk to yourself as if you were your best friend

• Choose a routine activity when alone; for example while washing dishes, concentrate on the feel of the water and dishes.
• Allow the mind to wander to any immediate sensory experience (sounds outside, smells from the stove, colors in the room.
• If the mind begins to think about the past or the future, abstractions or worries, redirect it gently back.
• This redirection of brain activity from your thoughts and worries to your senses disrupts the stress response and prompts relaxation. It also helps promote and emotional and sensual appreciation of simple pleasures already present in your life.