How To Select The Right Personal Life Coach

Date: December 25, 2009
Author: Penny Pettman
Categories: Uncategorized
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In life, most things come down to the choices you make and whether or not you learn and/or benefit from them. That’s right, it is all about how you think about what is handed to you. Everyone will experience hard times in life, but those who make it through and come out on top are always positive thinkers.
But not everyone can do this alone. You might need a mentor to help you achieve whatever goals you are pursuing in life. A personal life coach could be the answer to a lot of your seeming to be misfortunes. A personal life coach can keep you on track with your goals while monitoring your progress.
The Demand For Life Coaches is Booming
The history of the personal life coach is quite short, but is booming already. Both the demand for, and supply of, qualified life coaches has expanded quickly. This phenomenon is due to an increasing number of people who find working with a personal life coach to be extremely beneficial.
Find an Instructor Not an Impostor
Nonetheless, some drawbacks to this situation are beginning to emerge. For instance, various people refer to themselves as life coaches, without having any significant experience, education, or skills in the field. Thus, to ensure that you are entirely satisfied with the coaching you receive from a personal life coach, consider the following suggestions:
* Select a personal life coach with ample experience
* Learn how long they have been coaching, and whether in a part-time or full-time position
* If you are looking for a specialized Life Coach, such as a Career Coach, Sales Coach, or Executive Coach, verify that the candidate Life Coach has sufficient experience in that niche subject
* Verify that the personal life coach has finished advanced training and has earned certification at least one institution that the International Coach Federation (ICF) recognizes. This federation allows you to distinguish which Life Coaching schools are beneficial, and which are useless
* Talk to several life coaches and use one that you seem to connect with
* Find out if the person listens well and fully comprehends your objectives
* Remember this is about you, and a good life coach will make this about you and what you want, not what they want for you
You should also request that your life coach explains precisely the services they can offer, and the cost for those services. Furthermore, learn about what type of commitment that personal life coach requests. It is wise to avoid life coaches who require advance payment for long-term programs.
Select someone who is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF). ICF governs professional life coaches, so professional ethics and practice rules preside over members of that particular group.
Choosing an unskilled or inexperienced personal life coach will not result in the end of the world, you just might experience more hard times and be out a few more bucks. However, the amount of quality life coaches is growing. Therefore, with a little research and effort on your part you should be able to find a personal life coach that can help you achieve your dreams.

Top Five Ways Hypnotherapy Can Help You Reach Your Goals

Date: December 25, 2009
Author: Penny Pettman
Categories: Uncategorized
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Modern day use of hypnosis, or hypnotherapy, has become a popular method for people seeking to improve their lives. Hypnosis offers people the opportunity to try and eliminate bad habits and improve things like their confidence, memory, and even their athletic skills.
One of the best ways that people can use the positive effects of hypnosis to their advantage is to get rid of bad habits, especially those that can affect your health.
Hypnotherapy has been used as an effective way to treat people who are trying to quit smoking. Many experts agree that hypnosis is a superior way to attempt this, because it doesn’t require the use of any medications.
Hypnosis can also be effective for people who are trying to quit smoking without the negative effects of withdrawal or weight gain that can accompany smoking cessation attempts.
Eliminating stress is another way that hypnosis can have a healthy, positive effect. Stress is a common issue among many people, and when it’s severe, it can cause serious mental and physical problems. Hypnotherapy is an option for people looking to break the habits that cause stress in their lives.
Another important issue plaguing people today is the challenge of losing weight. Again, hypnosis has been used widely and effectively to help people manage their weight, learn to focus on and reevaluate their eating habits, and take control of their weight management.
Beyond helping individuals with their bad habits, hypnosis can help to enhance people’s natural abilities. For instance, for those looking to boost their memory, hypnotherapy can be a great option to increase focus and retain information.
For people who want to increase their athletic ability, hypnosis can help you get “in the zone” for focus-based sports. It can also be a great help to endurance athletes that may need help when they “hit the wall.”
For people who are concerned about being dependent upon hypnotists for treatment, there are other options. Self-hypnosis is a great option for people who want to be in complete control of their own hypnotherapy treatment.
Self-hypnosis involves having a trained hypnotist give you the tools to be able to put yourself into hypnosis on your own. This means that when you need to focus, relax, concentrate, or be your absolute best at whatever your goal is, you can do it all on your own.
Hypnosis can be a very effective method for people looking to improve or enhance almost any aspect of their lives. When considering hypnosis or hypnotherapy as an option, make sure you do your research. Hypnosis has become such a popular treatment that you should have no problem finding plenty of good information on the Web.
Also, be sure to check that the hypnotherapy group or individual you choose offers plenty of information and are reputable. Another thing to look for is client testimonials and a money-back guarantee.
Testimonials can give you an idea of how other people responded to hypnosis and a solid guarantee can ease any worries you may have.

The 7 Ways Stress Effects Your Health

Date: December 24, 2009
Author: Penny Pettman
Categories: Advice
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All of us stress out sometimes, but there are times we are so stressed out it effects our health.Unknown to a lot of people, stress is a direct cause of a number of health problems. Many people dismiss stress as a result of overwork, but it is in fact a medical condition that can lead to more serious complications if not treated properly.Stress 101: Everything You Need to KnowFor such a fairly common problem, the public doesn’t really know a lot of information about stress. This is probably why most people just dismiss it instead of seeking treatment for it. In fact, here are a few interesting statistics that may just encourage people to take stress more seriously:

Two Main Types of StressThe first type of stress is a good type of stress. This stress is called eustress. The other type of stress is called distress or chronic stress. This type of stress is the one that is harmful for the body.As serious as Chronic stress can be it is hard to detect. Most times chronic stress will go be undetected until symptoms arise. By then it means that the chronic stress has progressed and at this point it is treatable but is much more difficult than if caught early on. What Could Happen With Prolonged Stress1. Depression Depression is a side effect that is commonly seen in people with chronic stress. Depression is a serious condition that effects not only you physically, but emotionally, and economically. It not only makes your tired, but sad and from being sad it effects your willingness to go to and perform at work.2. AnxietyThis is a condition very similar to depression but also quite different. Physiological effects can be seen in the body when anxiety and depression occur at the same time.3. Heart Conditions Although stress is not a direct cause of heart attacks, it certainly plays a huge part in the process.4. Diabetes This illness is characterized by the unnaturally high levels of sugar in the bloodstream. It has been said that stress is one of the most common reasons for the irregularity in glucose levels in the blood.5. Hair Loss There are times a couple of weeks after a stressful situation occurs that clumps of hair will fall out. Although most of the time hair loss is blamed on genetics, stress is a common cause that is commonly overlooked.6. Excessive Weight Weight gain is extremely common when someone is under a great deal of stress. Stress slow your metabolism and causes people to over-eat to have the endorphins, a chemical in the body to be released when the stomach is full. Endorphins gives you a temporary high that chronically stressed people enjoy. These two factors can be deadly to a healthy physique.7. Loss of Libido Now, if the last 6 steps didn’t convince you stress is a serious problem this will. Libido is diminished when there is severe or prolonged stress in a persons life, and for some reason or another this condition is more commonly found in men than women.Although these conditions are severe there are many more conditions to consider. These are simply the most reported. However these conditions alone should be enough to make you reconsider your options for medical treatment. It is best to catch the problem before it’s too severe to treat.

Managing Stress – A life Changing Journey

Date: December 23, 2009
Author: Penny Pettman
Categories: Advice
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MANAGING STRESS – A LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY

 

What is stress?

 Stress is our body’s way of reacting emotionally and physically to any kind of external pressures or demands. Although this kind of response may be beneficial at times, like when it provides the needed strength and energy in times of danger, too much stress or a prolonged state of stress is harmful to our body.

 What causes stress?

 Stress is caused by a variety of factors for different people. For most people and for most of the time, it is usually caused by unexpected and unpleasant changes which we are not physically and emotionally prepared to handle.

 Some of the factors that have been found to contribute greatly to stress include the following:

 

Overwork – Working too hard with little time for rest and relaxation has been a constant source of stress for many people.

Home stressors – This is particularly true for those who live with an extended family or relatives. Another classic example of a home stressor is when a stay-at-home mother chooses to do everything for the family thereby tiring herself out everyday and lacking the time for a much needed rest.

Survival Stress – This is the body’s natural reaction when faced with physical danger. Our body responds with a burst of strength and energy which enable us to either “fight” or “flee” from the situation. We can therefore consider this as an acceptable kind of stress.

Internal Stress – This one is caused by none other than our own selves. When we think negatively and worry too much about things we can’t control and put ourselves in situations which may cause too much pressure or demands in our emotional state, we become stressed.

Environmental factors – These are the things around us that disrupt our normal lives and can put a strain on our emotional well-being. Some of these factors may include irritating people, noise, crowded areas, and emergency situations.

 

Who gets stressed?

 Stress is a classic feature of human life and has become part of almost everyone else’s system. I’m pretty sure that we have all experienced stress at one time or another, whether working on a highly demanding task, trying to get along with difficult people whom we have to spend most of out time with either at home or at work, or taking care of our family and having to work at the same time.

 People of any gender and from all age groups can suffer from stress and anxiety when exposed to any of the different stressors mentioned above.

 

How does stress affect us?

 

Stress has been known to cause negative changes to our physical, physiological, and psychological well-being, either directly or indirectly, leading to health problems, low work productivity, poor judgment, and broken relationships among many other things. Some studies even suggest that stress can literally kill us in the long run, as it contributes to the risk of having a heart attack or other fatal diseases.

 Some of the changes that can happen to us when we are stressed may include the following:

 

Physical changes – headaches, weight loss, abnormal fatigue levels, difficulty sleeping, body aches, increased susceptibility to colds and infections

Psychological / emotional changes – short temper, depression, lack of confidence, poor concentration, helplessness, anxiety attacks, loss of direction, inability to relax, crying spells

Behavioral – turning to drugs or alcohol, becoming destructive, forgetfulness, inability to commit to something or to make decisions

Relationships – intolerance of certain people, not wanting to socialize, decreased sex drive, nagging, resentment, problems with spouse and/or children

  

How to reduce stress

 

One of the most important things to remember when handling stress is that everything has to start within us. We can never control what happens in our lives but we can always choose how to face the stressful situations. Here are some ideas that may help prevent or reduce stress.

       Think positively. Negative thoughts have never solved any problem!

Accept changes as part of life and learn to deal with them.

Do something enjoyable at least once a day. This may take as little as 5 minutes of your time!

Strengthen family ties and develop healthy relationships with friends and co-workers.

Eat well and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Join weekly yoga or dance classes, attend group exercises, or indulge in recreational activities that interest you. Having a healthy body is one sure way of protecting oneself against stressful situations.

Be aware of the different factors that cause stress in your life and make every possible way to avoid them.  

Develop skills in money and time management.

Reach out to other people and try to help others in your own little ways. The feeling of fulfillment that comes from being able to help people can boost your self-confidence and strengthen relationships.

Strengthen spiritual resources and develop a strong faith.

 

These are only among the tried and tested ways to reduce the stress in our lives. Some may be effective for other people while some of these may not cause any positive change at all. What is therefore important is for us to know ourselves better and to figure out which solution can help us overcome the different challenges that life throws at us each and every day. Remember, managing stress is not a one-time deal but rather a life-long journey to a happy and healthy life!

 

How to End All The Stress

Date: December 22, 2009
Author: Penny Pettman
Categories: Advice
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We cannot help it but fall into our daily routines. Working, studying, running the errands, groceries, kids, deadlines, projects, budgeting–the list can go on and on. It is a paradox that the things that make our lives essentially easier are the same things that bind us to our routines. Technology evolved and is continually improving in leaps and bounds, yet we all feel stressed. The amenities that we now enjoyed are not enjoyed by the previous generation. Yet backaches, brain aneurism, carpal tunnel syndrome, migraines, sleeplessness, etc. are showing us that we are more stressed than ever before. The stress of living in a post-modern world also invented post-modern approaches to stress. The thing is, even our hobbies and interests are very stressful and demanding activities. The stressful life in the post-modern also had post-modern solutions, which are either ineffective or superficial.

There are different types of stress. One of the reasons why people have a hard time ending stress is that they are not addressing the core issues within their lives. Here are a handful of stress categories. Remember that in finding a solution to a problem, you must first know the issue and the cause of the problem. Find out which of these stress categories are causing your life to be a living hell:

1. Work/Study-Related Stress.

The workplace and the school are very stressful environments. Deadlines are one major cause of Work/Study Related Stress. There are a couple of other factors that might contribute to this type of stress. One is conflict with your boss/co-workers and/or teachers, another is changes that are happening abruptly, where you could not cope up with them. Threats to job security, or a fears of having a failing mark could also contribute to stress.

2. Relationship/Family Related Stress.

Family related stress includes divorce/separation issues, extra-marital affairs, child-rearing, teenage break ups and unwanted pregnancies among others. This is a major stressor for most people and oftentimes, stress coming from this area can have a major impact in other areas.

3. Environment Related Stress.

Environment related stress is stress where the normal daily routines of a person is bombarded by disturbances and changes that the person cannot cope with. Disturbances include noise from the surroundings (i.e. jackhammer in a nearby construction site, etc.), and weather disturbances among others. Changes in the environment such as moving to a new state, having a new job or having a completely different lifestyle are stressors too.

4. Psychological Stress.

Psychological stress is an indicator that there are other stressors in the life of a person. Psychological stress can include fears of an individual which can either be real or phobias which are not grounded on reality. Sleeplessness, anxieties and worries are sometimes caused by unrealistic fears which have no basis. The subconscious of a person and/or his/her belief systems, cultural background and social milieu can all contribute to a socio-psychological stress complex.

5. Financial Stress.

Feelings of helplessness in financial terms is one big cause of stress, and because the economic well-being of an individual is connected to other areas of his/her life, a financial problem can also have spillover effects in areas such as relationship. The individuals suffering from this problem are often individuals who have a real need for basic needs or individuals who cannot distinguish their needs from their wants.

6. Health Related Stress.

As the saying goes, the health of a person is the wellspring of his life. Health related stress range from sleeplessness due to an extreme caffeine consumption to drug abuse. Ailments are also sources of stress. Some of the most common ailments that are major stressors are heart and lung related problems and brain illnesses.

These categories are not archetypes. Mostly, one stressor can lead to other forms of stress. The categories can mix and match to create more stress and pressures can creep in from one area of your life to another. Above all this, the degree of stress can be mild to extreme. A suffering from stress in one area could not possibly isolate this area from infecting and inflicting damage to other areas of his/her life.

How do we end all stress? There are literally thousands of anti-stress and stress management websites. The ancient and natural ways are still the best ways towards peace and serenity. Here are some tips on how to end all stress:

1. Have a healthy lifestyle.

Health is wealth. I cannot stress it more bluntly. The only happiness that we can ever enjoy in this world is life, and having a great life starts with being healthy. Sometimes, people are ill equipped to face the stressors in their lives because their bodies cannot handle activities involving pain, endurance and strength. Exercise. Eat right.

2. Have sex regularly.

Sex is proven to be a very effective anti-stress activity. The amount of sex needed by an individual depends from one individual to another. Endorphins are released when we have sex. These chemicals make us happy and contented. Tensions at home are also lessened when couples continually enjoy each other.

3. Communicate.

People who do not say NO are always stressed-out people.
Admit mistakes and weaknesses. A simple misunderstanding between you and your boss or your teacher can really make or break you. Oftentimes, it is the small things that are neglected.

4. Prioritize.

Have a battle plan. Organize your life. I know that this seems hard for most people. I am the worst procrastinator there is. This article was given one month before the deadline, only to be written the night before the deadline. In financial matters, always weigh between needs and wants. According to Da Vinci, Simplicity is still the ultimate sophistication. Living a simple life that is free from lots of complexities.

5. Enjoy life and stop to smell the flowers.

We get easily entangled with the daily concerns that we have. Our society is trained towards self-destruction. We work all day; we even put up additional hours on the job just to get rich quickly or make ends meet. A lot of people forget to enjoy life. Always remember that happy thoughts, and moments, make us fly. It is good if you will learn to reward yourself from time to time.

6. Acceptance of the truth.

This is one of the major reasons why thousands of Alcoholics Anonymous members are very successful with their program. They work on the prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference. There are things which we cannot change, and there are things that have to be addressed even though going through them could be painful. Are your problems based on real issues? What things can be changed? What are the things that cannot be changed? Do you need to take it easy on yourself?

Stress is an over-all phenomenon that is a pitfall for many people. In the same way, well-being should not only be limited to your finances or your health. The only real way to combat stress is to be a well rounded person. Live a balanced and a healthy life!

What Is Hypnotherapy And How Does It Work?

Date: December 22, 2009
Author: Penny Pettman
Categories: Uncategorized
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Although the word “sleep” is often used in correlation with hypnosis and hypnotherapy, hypnosis is not a state of deep sleep. It does, however, induce a trance-like condition that actually increases the subject’s state of awareness in their own subconscious. Because the subconscious is under the mental surface and we are mostly unaware of it in our normal conscious state, the hypnotic state is necessary to gain access to it.
A hypnotherapist, after the subject is in their hypnotic state, is able to suggest ideas to them as a form of therapy. These ideas are implanted deep into the psyche and can help with any number of issues. For example, while under hypnosis, a therapist may be able to suggest to you that cigarettes taste and smell awful, they make you sick and you want nothing to do with them. This is only a suggestion and may not work 100% the first time. Instead, the next time the subject picks up a cigarette, they may smoke it but will gain less enjoyment from it, hopefully leading them to eventually quit.
Hypnosis is the act of hypnotizing a subject. The practice of healing or positive growth through hypnosis is known as hypnotherapy. This is the method most subjects seek out to help them stop smoking, lost weight, reduce anxiety, and so on. Hypnotherapy focuses on ‘reprogramming’ certain behavior patterns within the mind. This can enable you to conquer your fears, bad habits and negative thoughts toward yourself.
Hypnotherapy can treat physical symptoms as well as mental ones. As the subject is placed under hypnosis, they are much more relaxed. This is more than a mental state, as the blood pressure and breathing will slow, releasing pressure on the heart and other organs. This is effective for pain management and often to promote physical healing after an injury or major surgery. Hypnotherapy is practiced on the principle that the mind and the body are one connected thing and that one can control the other.
Hypnosis is effective as a treatment process chiefly because it allows the subject to shut down the “thinking” part of the brain. In other words, under hypnosis you do not think about the stresses of your everyday life or the logistics. The non-analytical side of the brain (our right hemisphere) is empowered and allowed to be affected and cause changes in the person. This may seem a little far-fetched for some, but millions of people around the world swear by these methods.
Hypnotherapy can treat any number of disorders from bad habits such as smoking and overeating, to suppressed memories that inhibit you from carrying on successful relationships. It has been endorsed by medical professionals as an effective pain management technique and is often chosen over epidural’s during childbirth. However, none of these conditions can be treated effectively if the subject does not believe that they will. Because hypnosis is a science of the mind, it cannot be entered into involuntarily and must have your full cooperation in order to be effective.

Personal Life Coaching

Date: December 22, 2009
Author: Penny Pettman
Categories: Uncategorized
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There is a new phenomenon sweeping the U.K. which is helping people not only to achieve, earn, and do more but also to lead a more balanced and holistic life. It’s called ‘Personal Life Coaching’ and it really does help individuals be all that they want to be.
As with so many things this concept started in the U.S.A. in the late eighties. Following on from the once popular consultants and therapists, it has become the ‘personal coach’ who will now help sort out your personal and professional life. This new type of advisor will strategise with you in weekly sessions, either in person, on the phone or via email.
Coaching started out as a way to help frenzied entrepreneurs and corporate executives cope with a life that seemed to be careering out of control. As reported by the British Journal of Administrative Management coaching ‘takes a holistic view of the individual’ ensuring that work, corporate values, personal needs and career development are made to work in synergy and not against each other. However, what started as a ‘corporate client’ service has now become a valuable tool for any individual wanting to improve their life.
Borne out of the competitive pressures of today’s economy as well as the struggle to find balance in the frantic pace of modern life this Personal Life Coaching is now rapidly attracting devotees in Britain. CEOs, entrepreneurs, professionals, people in career transition and many others grappling with life issues are all turning to this new ‘tool’ to guide them through life’s difficulties and help raise them above the ‘fog’ to the clear heights of peace and self-satisfaction. There are now hundreds of coaches across the country and it is forecast that by the year 2004 it will be as common to have a coach as it is to have a personal fitness trainer.
Coaching is a very powerful, collaborative relationship between the coach and a willing individual, which facilitates that individual, through the process of discovery, goal setting and strategic action-planning, in the realisation of an extraordinary result. It is also a body of knowledge, a technology and a style of relating that focuses on the development of that human’s potential.
More and more people are tired of the frenzied, technological information age that we live in and are interested in a higher quality of life. Life where you have more time for yourself and your relationships, with more energy to invest in your emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. Whether you are a corporate executive working sixty hours a week, a single parent trying to raise a family or someone who is just tired of feeling stressed out and pressed for time, you have a choice about how to live your life. You can step back, re-evaluate your priorities and make a conscious decision about the future you would like to create.
Just as you would turn to the local gym or personal trainer if your body were out of shape, now you can hire a personal coach to improve the quality of your life. With their help you can shape up your life and overcome all the obstacles that get in the way of living the life you want – like hiring a personal trainer for your soul!
One might ask why a coach is needed, rather than a partner, best friend or work colleague. Quite simply it is because of the qualification, professionalism and experience of the person to whom you are talking – and the FREEDOM with which you can speak.
Most of us have experienced the desire to have a kind of heart to heart with someone who really understands workplace challenges, family demands, the need for love and job satisfaction and the importance of personal space. It is imperative that this ‘sounding board’ is a person to whom you can offload ALL of your thoughts, fears, ideas and aspirations. Often discussion with a loved one or work colleague can be restrained for any number of reasons – concern for their feelings, fear of displaying weakness, reluctance to share good, but perhaps unformulated, ideas or the unwillingness to disclose a secret.
One reason for the high demand for coaches and coaching comes from the increasing number of entrepreneurs, infopreneurs and self employed people seeking to be successful in an extremely competitive market place. It is now recognised that the right coach gives the professional or business owner a major and competitive advantage. It is estimated that over the last ten years well over a quarter of a million people in the United States have been coached. This phenomenon is now here and running in the United Kingdom and any businessperson or entrepreneur who wants to get ahead, who wants to have a major and dramatic competitive advantage will have their own personal coach.
The value and success of this ‘tool’ has been seized upon by hundreds of corporations worldwide including IBM, Ernst and Young, Deloitt Touche, Lucent Technologies, AT & T, Phyzer, Dupont, Delta Faucet, Kodak, Rodale, the FAA, Globe Business Services, Caterpillar Financial, JC Penny and Telus. All of these corporations have recognised the key differential between training and coaching – they each have their value but are distinctly different. A very interesting article published in the Public Personnel Management in the winter of 97 revealed a study done by the International Personal Management Association where training alone was compared with coaching combined with training. The study showed that training alone increased productivity by 22.4% while training plus coaching increased productivity by a massive 88 %.
Coaching contracts vary to some degree but generally a client will work with a coach for between six and twelve months for a monthly fee, which covers four weekly sessions. There are no additional charges and the coach does not take a percentage or a contingency- type fee or award.
Very simply, people hire a coach because they want MORE of something (money, time, happiness, success, freedom) or LESS of something (frustration, toleration, delays, procrastination). A coach is trained to work with a client on both personal and business goals as opposed to a therapist who works on issues- there is a huge difference. Having set those goals the coach will help you implement them and stay by your side until their completion. So the question is “Would you like to change your life? Do you want more time for yourself? Would you like to take better care of your health, reduce stress and create more balance in your life?”. The answer is to hire a coach.
Very soon the question will be not “Do you have a coach?” but
“Who is your coach?”

Learn Why You Must Start Combating Stress Immediately and Six Resources For Stress Management

Date: December 21, 2009
Author: Penny Pettman
Categories: Advice
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The real problems with stress arise when you don’t do anything at all. Some people are not aware they are at risk for problems such as heart attack and stroke. Stress is so common and strikes so slowly that few people are aware of any danger till its too late. A little statistic might make this a little clearer; webmd.com estimates that 75% to 95% of all doctors’ visits are stress related!

In other words, if you have symptoms of stress, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep problems, headaches, faster aging, strokes, depression, ulcers, asthma, weaker immune system (reducing your natural ability to fight off infection), panic attacks, loss of memory or even obesity…stress can be a significant factor.

Stress occurs when you perceive a demand on you to be greater than your resources. This can happen studying, working, dealing with events, holidays, running your own business and so on. The symptoms include an elevated blood pressure, release of hormones, increase of tension in your muscles, rapid breathing, and sweating.

Some stress can actually be good for you, as it can motivate you. But all the physical symptoms of stress can make your body weaker, breaking down its immune system. So stress for a longer period of time than a few days can be very dangerous.

Think of it this way; If you bought a car and then drove it around recklessly, not taking proper care of it, the car will break down. You are putting way too much exertion on the engine to keep it running for very long.

Your body is the same way with stress. You have to consciously take control of and manage stress, or your body will begin to run like a broken down car.

Unfortunately the fast paced living we are used to is designed to put your body into a state of stress from the very moment you wake up! It begins with the sharp sound of an alarm bell, followed by the stress of the morning commute, add coffee and sugar filled snacks and your body is beginning to get hit hard…and all of this before the work day has even begun!

By the time you get home there is so much stress stored up in your body that you may even find it difficult to allow your mind to relax. You have probably been “storing” stress in your body for years and don’t realize it. This leads to trouble relaxing and sleeping, one of the most common symptoms of stress.

“Stress is harmful to the body as well as the mind.”
Time Magazine January 20, 2003

The topic of stress relief has been the object of controversy in recent decades due to the various ways to administer it. There are different ways for different cultures. Where the Hindus have yoga the Japanese have Zen. Both of these methods are excellent in relieving stress. There are many types of yoga and this practice includes stretching of the muscles and various positions to relax each body part. Meditation and concentration for each movement will eventually with continued effort give you a youthful glow and allow you to keep stress levels at a minimum. Zen, on the other, hand is a style focusing on more of the meditation. Zen is a more philosophical approach to stress relief and really works if practiced on a regular schedule.

Other ways to relieve stress include deep breathing exercises, light physical exercise, reading, getting out into nature, the calming effects of light music; each individual has their own method. Some may prefer bingo or bowling while another may choose baking or smoking a cigarette. Whatever the choice, there are certain consequences. For instance, if you choose to smoke to relieve your stress it may not be the best solution and could result in a health risk. Other ways to relieve stress are acupuncture and hypnosis. To locate a professional simply use the internet or it’s as easy as your phone book under physicians or alternative medicine.

I have researched and compiled a list of 6 extremely useful resources on the internet. Each resource has a description from it’s website to give you an idea of what to expect. This will give you a jump start on understanding the roots of stress and how to efficiently reduce stress in your life today.

1. A Completely Free Stress Management And Stress Relief System: If you want to learn exactly how you can control stress in all aspects of life, step by step, you will love this program. I think this is the most effective stress management & stress relief system on the net today and it’s available free. Might as well take advantage of it. Read about it @ http://www.InstantStressManagement.com

2. The American Institute of Stress: Many studies have proven beyond any doubt that stress affects your mind AND body. This site is “Dedicated to Advancing Our Understanding of: (1)The Role of Stress in Health and Illness, (2) The Nature and Importance of Mind-Body Relationships, and (3) Our Inherent and Immense Potential for Self-Healing.” @ http://www.Stress.org

3. American Psychological Association Help Center: As stated on the website, “APA’s Help Center is your online resource for brochures, tips and articles on the psychological issues that affect your physical and emotional well-being, as well as information about referrals.” @ http://www.apahelpcenter.org

4. International Stress Management Association: This is a charity that, “exists to promote sound knowledge and best practice in the prevention and reduction of human stress. It sets professional standards for the benefit of individuals and organizations using the services of its members.” @ http://www.isma.org.uk

5. The Job Stress Network: Everybody gets stressed at work. Although there are many good methods for quick stress relief (see resource #1), sometimes it is important to get information on work stress in particular. This can help you cope with your job better. As stated on the website, “The purpose of this site is to bring together, for public dissemination, information about and related to Job Strain (specifically) and Work Stress (in general).” @ http://www.workhealth.org

6. Stress Management Information at About.com: At this website you will find collections of articles, tips and tests that you can take. If you are looking for a general understanding of stress then this is the place to go. http://stress.about.com

It is very easy to maintain a relaxed mind and body if you just have the tools and knowledge. We all have to deal with life’s every day stresses but they don’t have to destroy our lives. Being able to control our stress levels is important to our overall body health.

Making some time for yourself that is quiet and free from things like your children or your spouse is very important because just because we love the people in our lives; they often cause a lot of our stress.

Manage Your Stress With Ease

Date: December 20, 2009
Author: Penny Pettman
Categories: Advice
Comments: Leave a reply

Studies from the 1950s, 60s and 70s predicted that with advances in technology we would have a lot more leisure time by the year 2000. How wrong they were! Today we are expected to produce a lot more, of a higher quality, as fast as possible and all with less support than we had 30 years ago. In this information age we spend more time living inside our heads than in our bodies; we move less and think more and it is taking a major toll on our health. The effects of pressure have become so prevalent in our lives that they have even been given it a name: stress.

Stress is an internal phenomenon. You might say, My office is stressful or My shopping mall gives me stress or You try having four kids and not being stressed! But while these are contributors to the stress process they do not create stress. There is no such thing as external stress. Stress is in your thoughts, feelings and beliefs and how you choose to behave in response to an external pressure. If you feel that a situation is more demanding than you are capable of handling, then you will experience stress.

The three major causes of stress

Acute Pressure

Acute Pressure is pressure that only lasts for a short period of time. As an example, imagine you are a cat strolling through the backyard, minding your own business, when suddenly a rabid dog jumps over the fence and charges straight toward you. Your body would react immediately by activating a series of neurological, biochemical, hormonal and physiological actions, all designed to help you avoid the dog and survive. This automatic response is commonly referred to as the fight or flight response. The stress response in the case of our cat runs its course very quickly, eg the dog bolts over the fence and charges at the cat (the external pressure), which causes the cats brain and hormonal system to release a series of stress hormones (the stress response), which in turn puts the cat in a physiological state to either fight the dog or run away (the fight or flight response). After escaping the dog, the cats stress hormones return to normal and it is soon strolling through the backyard again. This is an example of acute pressure causing stress. The short-term effects of acute stress include an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, body temperature and adrenaline output as well as feelings of anxiety, nervousness and tension.

Chronic Pressure

Unfortunately in todays world, we humans are not as fortunate as the cat. Every day we deal with situations that cause continuous stress. Alarm clocks, unexpected bills, mortgage repayments, traffic jams, work, family and partner commitments, all of which can be harder to escape than the rabid dog and unlike the rabid dog, they come back time and time again. This creates a situation where we are constantly stuck in the middle of the stress response, where our stress hormones are elevated for long periods of time. Although this is not immediately life-threatening (as is the acute pressure situation of the cat and the dog), over the long term it can lead to obesity, reduced sex drive, weakened immune system, loss of memory and poor feelings of well being. If we cannot remove or escape from acute stress, it soon becomes chronic stress.

Imagined Pressure

Our subconscious minds cannot distinguish between a real and an imagined event. Therefore, even though some of our fears may be anticipated or imagined, rather than actual, they still activate the bodys stress responses. If these fears are not dealt with they will soon become a source of chronic stress.

A large proportion of the stress we experience is caused by either a fear of failure or fear of success. Fear of failure can be traced back to a fear of loss in some form. Loss of control, reputation, money, livelihood and even life. Fear of success on the other hand can be traced to a fear of your own greatness, which may actually also lead back to a fear of loss. Loss of freedom, loss of privacy, loss of leisure time, loss of having a life.

FEAR = False Expectations Appearing Real. It is thought that as much as 90 per cent of all fears never eventuate and that the other 10 per cent often dont turn out to be as bad as we expect. You need to be aware that fear is a negative thought and the more you focus on it, the more likely it will manifest itself in your life.

The best way to deal with your fears is to categorise them as things you can control and things you cannot control. It is pointless to worry about things that you cannot control. They are what they are and whatever will be will be. There is nothing you can do about them. Focus instead on the things you can control. Begin by putting them into perspective. Ask yourself, If this fear were to eventuate, how stressful would it be on a scale from 1-10?

Only 1-2 per cent of all fears are really worth worrying about. The others, which are more likely to really be inconveniences, should be confronted and dealt with before they create further dis-EASE in your life.

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.Shakespeare

Outcomes of stress

The effects of stress can be either positive or negative, depending entirely on how you choose to view the external pressure.

Positive Outcomes of Stress include:

Increased physical, mental and emotional performance
Growth
Change
Creativity
Fun and enjoyment

The human body loves positive stress as it provides a stimulus for growth and improvement.

Im sure you know of people who just seem to be cruising through life, merely existing and not truly experiencing. These people do not have enough positive stress in their lives. Unfortunately, if we are not growing, we are dying, and these people are simply waiting to die. The key to living an amazing life is to fill it with positive stress so that you are continually growing and developing.

What is a source of positive stress for one person may be a source of negative stress for another. Your experience will depend on your stress threshold and the coping strategies you employ. To determine whether an event causes you positive or negative stress you need to be aware of its affect on your body.

Negative Outcomes of Stress include:

Heart disease
Cancer
Diabetes
Obesity
Illness and injury
Burnout and breakdown

Exposure to too much stress for too long will reduce the ability of your immune system and enhance your susceptibility to dis-EASE. The first sign of any dis-EASE in your life is a good indicator that you have surpassed your stress threshold. As with all forms of dis-EASE, before you can address your stress you must first confront the underlying issue(s) causing it. If these issues, thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviours are not dealt with they can end up ruling our lives and creating self-destructive patterns, which will eventually lead to burnout or even breakdown.

Identify your optimal level of stress

To achieve an optimal balance of stress in your life you should look to involve yourself in situations which are neither too relaxing nor too stressful, but somewhere in between. If something is too easy you will not become sufficiently stimulated to produce a quality performance or growth, and if it is too difficult you will become over-stimulated which will also affect your ability to produce a quality performance and lead to dis-EASE. Becoming an expert in your own stress management is simply a matter of putting yourself into situations that provide you with enough stimulation to perform at your peak.

Coping Strategies

By listening to your body you will be able to implement positive solutions to reduce the effects of stress in your life.

Positive Coping Strategies:

Planning ahead
Thinking positive and empowering thoughts
Eliminating toxins
Exercising
Eating well
Resting, relaxing and rejuvenating
Evaluating

Negative Coping Strategies:

Too often people will deal with the effects of stress by using either stimulants to kick start the body or suppressants to slow it down. Unfortunately, most of these stimulants and suppressants are toxic. Continuously pumping your body with toxins is one of the fastest ways to inflict damage on yourself. Toxins can take the form of:

Stimulants

Caffeine
Nicotine
Recreational drugs
Sugar

Suppressants

Alcohol
Prescription drugs
High fat or processed foods

Behaviours

Work addiction
Sex addiction
Exercise addiction
Food addiction (overeating/under eating)
Television addiction
Gambling

The problem with these coping strategies is they do not address the root cause of the stress. They simply mask the symptoms and thus become detrimental to your health.

Are you suffering from stress?