Do you feel like this? Are you running around in a circle all the time and never get outside of it? Or do you feel like you are swirling into an abyss? Then you are probably stressed and have the symptoms to prove it. You might even be stressed to the max and not be fully aware of it or the consequences.

When I worked for Wilson Learning in New Mexico in the mid-1980s, I learned a lot about stress from some of the most incredible people I have ever met. For 40 years, Larry Wilson has brought together people who set the standard for “Human Performance Improvement.”

People like Alvin Tofler (“The illiterate of the future are not those who cannot read or write; they are those who cannot learn, unlearn, and re-learn”), Peter Russell (who is included with his 3-minute meditation in the Meditation series of this site), Willis Harmon, Brendan O'Regan, and so many others (futurists) came to Wilson Learning's Pecos River Conference Center outside of Santa Fe.

One of the methods was to learn how to eliminate stress by dealing with them head on. I witnessed uptight corporate executives from all over the world learn how to face their demons and work together in a more productive and positive way. They arrived in three-piece suits and an attitude. They left crying and hugging one another. It was a thrill to watch this.

One of my favorite events was participating in Bucky Fuller's World Game. It was a privilege to participate in many of these events, and be part of a company that was so ahead of its time. After a few years, Wilson Learning returned to Minnesota, where Larry continues to do his incredible work with companies worldwide.

There are some fun methods you can play with to see which one works for you: take long walks, meditate, scream at the top of your lungs (you can do this parked in an isolated place in the car), listen to music, watch whales, go bird-watching, paint, sew, dance, sing. These are all positive actions to take. If you have a hobby, get more involved with it when you are feeling stressed. ANYTHING that takes your mind off the negative will work best. Remember that you will attract more positive stuff into your life if you think positive, too!

Here are some facts about stress. This is collected information from various sources, all validated through extensive research.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO STRESS INCLUDE

• changing residence (moving)
• starting a new job
• relationship
• overwhelmed by too much to do
• not feeling appreciated
• feeling lousy or serious illness
• money problems
• a death in the family
• poverty
• newly married or divorced
• construction close to where you live
• losing a pet
• conflicts with children
• loneliness

 

SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

Added to what is given in Part 1, here is a list of stress symptoms:

• neck, shoulder and back pain
• diarrhea
• indigestion
• queasiness
• smoking, drinking and abusing prescribed medication
• inability to concentrate
• exhaustion
• irritability
• depression
• feelings of emptiness
• hopelessness
• uncontrollable crying
• loss of appetite, or food cravings (mostly carbs)
• accidents (injuries)

Of course, there are many others to add to this list, but these are the most obvious ... something you can relate to if you are stressed.

STEPS TO RELIEVE STRESS

Instead of living with your symptoms of stress, or taking pharmaceutical or illegal drugs to dampen them, learn to hear the signals your body is sending to help you control them. Experts in the field suggest that if you do the following, the adverse side-effects of stress can be greatly reduced:

• Exercise on a regular basis to keep your body strong. Exercise is the number one way to stay healthy, lengthen your life and eliminate stress. While you exercise, practice breathing the Yoga way, with intention.
• Laugh often. If you have a sense of humor about yourself and life in general, a lot of the stress will be washed away naturally. Through extensive research with actors, it has been proven that the facial muscles have a big effect on how one feels within. If you are lifting your muscles with a smile, you feel better. If you are frowning and/or crying, you don't feel happy. Actors are taught how to release these emotions when out of character. We are not. It's a good idea to smile and laugh a lot if you are feeling sad, regardless of whether it is real or not (your body will not know if it is fake, even if you do!).
• Always see the big picture and check yourself for negative thoughts. If you get any, try to replace them with positive thoughts. You're only one thought away from less stress!
• Relax to reduce muscle tension and release any anxiety by doing the Yoga Relaxation in Part 2 of this series. Do this on a regular basis. Make a routine out of it. Yoga is a one of the most powerful methods to get rid of tension in your body and mind.
• Meditation helps the mind relax. Try to meditate daily. You can try one or more of the meditation techniques provided on this site and change them weekly to find out which one works best for you. There are so many. There is the Meditation series, and the Chakra series has specific meditations for each chakra. The Postures series includes postures and exercises, which for some people is another form of meditation.
• Eat healthy foods. Nutrition is not just about physical strength. It also boosts your emotional and mental lives. If you eat a lot of carbs, you are not only going to gain weight, but you will feel sapped of energy during the day. Eat protein. If you are a vegetarian, you already know that this doesn't mean you have to eat meat or fish. Eat nuts. Combine amino acids. There are many ways to get protein. If you don't know how, do some research online. It's all there.
• Sleep the amount of hours your body needs to feel refreshed. Some people need only 5-6 hours of sleep (something I cannot even imagine!). Others need 7-9. Do what you know is best for you and try to maintain it.
• Prioritize and stick to your plans whenever it is anything that you know would stress you out of you didn't. Just this will give you a deep sense of being in control of your life.
• Think about your health and be positive about it, all the time. This is the best technique. All those diseases that are a direct result of unhealthy lifestyles and stress can be obliterated to give you an opportunity to live longer.
• Plan for unforeseen events that force you to make changes. Being rigid is a big downer.
• If you are the head of your own company or department, learn how to delegate to those you know can be trusted to carry out the job as you would. If you can't do that, at least learn to be patient with people who are not capable of doing the job the way you would.
• Enjoy the pleasures of life. Really taste the food you put into your mouth, and feel your muscles when you do Yoga. It should feel good to stretch them. If you are moaning while you exercise, you are adding stress to your life.
• Get the most out of every moment of your life. Live for the moment. Enjoy yourself here while you've got a life! If you are in a terrible situation, start planning ways to remove yourself from it. Nobody else will do it for you. Your life is up to you. Think positive and you will attract all good things into your life.
• Instead of going to doctors for every little ailment you have, learn how to be your own imaginary doctor. Learn about herbs and healthy ways to improve your health without taking drugs. Take responsibility for your own body. Take care of it. Love it. It's all you've got to express yourself in this world!