Don't Stress!

I recently read a blog posting on a diet blog about how stress is the number one cause of over-eating, and how, now with the economy and other problems in the forefront, the stress eating situation has been pushed to the side, but is increasing in frequency.

Thought I'd do a little blog posting of my own about the subject of stress:

If you're a prepper, you are probably under stress. You're concerned about the economy. About food prices. About inappropriate dictatorship government. About our children's education. Illegal drugs. Obesity and diabetes in preschoolers or younger. Global warming and other earth changes.

Here's a few ways to recognize stress:
Stress symptoms include mental, social, and physical manifestations. These include exhaustion, loss of/increased appetite, headaches, crying, sleeplessness, and oversleeping. Escape through alcohol, drugs, or other compulsive behavior are often indications. Feelings of alarm, frustration, or apathy may accompany stress.

Stress management is the ability to maintain control when something makes excessive demands.

Here's a few ways to manage stress:
  1. Seek help.
  2. See if you can change something or control the situation.
  3. Set realistic gols for yourself.
  4. Reduce the events in your life to reduce "circuit overload"
  5. Make a plan. Make a list. Make a lot of lists. Get it all down - what you need to do, what you can afford to do, what you think needs to be done first, who has to do it, when it has to be done ... all of it.
  6. Exercise! A little daily exercise can work wonders for your frame of mind.
  7. Take yourself out of a stressful situation whenever you can. Even if it's only for a short while each day.
  8. Don't worry. I know, easy to say, hard to do. Figure out if the earth will stand still if you don't worry about the situation.
  9. Prioritize the worrying situations and let the rest slide on by.
  10. Learn how to chill. Relax. Breathe deep. Meditate. Do yoga (also a form of exercise). These are very effective in controlling stress.
  11. Can you look at your stressful situations in a different way? Stress is basically your reaction to events or problems. If you can see something from a different perspective, perhaps it will help you cope better with it. If you'd prefer, get opinions from close friends, or other people you trust.
  12. Avoid reactions to situations what are extreme. If you are anxious, perhaps a little bit of nervousness would do better. A bit of anger instead of rage. Sadness instead of depression.
  13. Do something for others - like buy a homeless person a cup of coffee - to help you get your mind off your own problems.
  14. Get enough naps and sleep. When you don't sleep well enough or often enough, it just increases your stress.
  15. Alcohol, pills and drugs, whether prescription or illegal, mask stress symptoms. Deal with things before they get out of control, or compounded by the drug/alcohol use.
  16. Did you write those lists? Pick one of the most urgent stressful situations, and make a plan to work to resolve it. Lay it all out. Step by step. Then start following your plan. Adjust as you go along, if need be. Don't overwhelm yourself; baby steps will do just fine.
  17. Work on being positive. Smile everything you remember to. And remind yourself by drawing a little smiley face on your favorite finger. Or wear a silly ring. Or jingling earrings. Or a big red bow or tie.
  18. Remind yourself that you are a great person, and you can deal and work with anything that comes along.
  19. Did you know that "Stress causes more glucose to be delivered to the brain, which makes more energy available to neurons. This, in turn, enhances memory formation and retrieval. On the other hand, if stress is prolonged, it can impede the glucose delivery and disrupt memory." All Stressed Up, St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, p. 8B, Monday, November 30, 1998 - so... how can you work this to your advantage?
  20. Back to number 1 - seek help. If you feel like you are absolutely overwhelmed and can't seem to do anything about anything, and if it's interfering with your life, seek professional help. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Believe me, I'm sure in these economic and stressful times, the psychiatrists of this world are making money hand over fist!

Or... you could start a blog or comment on someone else's about things that are REALLY ticking you off ... believe me, it helps sometimes just to vent!

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