Stress can be cause by a myriad of reasons; they can be events, situations and things that cause stress. For many of us it is money worries, work and family life issues that cause us the greatest amount of stress. Health is another topic that can cause stress, especially for people that have chronic or painful conditions, medications to buy and testing that needs to be done, as well as the concern about the outcome of the prognosis.

While it is impossible and unhealthy to live a stress free life, there is good stress that we actually need to function properly, there is also bad stress that we need to minimize and deal with effectively to live a healthier life. These aren’t things that we can just internalize and think they will go away. Stress can have a profound impact on our health and the quality of our lives.

When you are facing stress whether it is acute (short term) or chronic (long term) stress it affects your overall physical and emotional health. Obviously short term stress is not as dangerous if you deal with the situation causing the stress and handle the stress properly. Chronic stress is another story, at first the symptoms that this stress causes may be very mild, but you may find that you are more susceptible to colds.

The longer the stress goes on though you may begin to experience more health problems such as depression, diabetes, heart disease, hair loss, hyperthyroidism, OCD or anxiety disorders, tooth and gum disease, sexual dysfunction, obesity, ulcers, fatigue and lethargy, difficulty sleeping and possibly death at the most extreme end.

The longer the stress and worry goes on though you will begin to experience more health problems such as depression, diabetes, heart disease, hair loss, hyperthyroidism, OCD or anxiety disorders, tooth and gum disease, sexual dysfunction, obesity, ulcers, fatigue and lethargy, difficulty sleeping and possibly death.

There are a number of things you can do that can help you deal with stress. Part of it is dealing with the situation causing the stress, if you can. If you realize it?s something beyond your control, simply letting go of trying to gain control will be stress relieving. Sometimes it means confronting the situation head on, and sometimes to means to put it on a shelf to deal with soon, but don?t procrastinate too long and that only delays the stress itself. . Listen to soothing music and take a hot bath with a beautiful candle. The soothing music will help you calm your mind and the hot bath will help release the tension from your body.

You can also create a gratitude book. Naturally do this when you aren?t stressed and use it when you are. In the gratitude book you are going to write the things in your life that you are thankful for. This can be as simple as the fact you are able to get up and live another day, that you are able to take a breath on your own and so on. Sometimes we just need quiet. Quiet time and deep breathing can also help soothe jangled nerves. Perhaps taking a powerful nap would be very restorative. Turn off the cell phone, music, TV, computer and other noise making items, unwind and unplug!

You can also create a gratitude book. Naturally do this when you aren’t stressed and use it when you are. In the gratitude book you are going to write the things in your life that you are thankful for. This can be as simple as the fact you are able to get up and live another day, that you are able to take a breath on your own and so on.

Try to eat healthy, organic foods and drink plenty of fresh water. Get rid of the junk foods as they only provide temporary comfort, but longer term leave you feeling lousy.

Try to eat healthy, organic foods and drink plenty of fresh water. Get rid of the junk foods as they only provide temporary comfort, but longer term leaves you feeling lousy

Talk a leisure walk outside, especially if you can find a beautiful quiet area to walk. Exercise is a wonderful tool. Sometimes a good run or a round of aerobics or something else that will get your heart rate up can really help get the tension out of the body.

Find a hobby you enjoy if you don?t already have one. Invest in your creative side and if you don?t know of one, set on a journey to discover it. Many times people have hidden talents that are just not yet known. Take a class that interests you to learn.

Call a supportive friend or family member, reach out to someone you love. Many times we isolate and don’t give others the chance to see us vulnerable, when they really do care and would like to show that care at our low points.

Take a vacation, or even just a mini get away if you can, if it?s camping.

Get outside, the sunshine and fresh air do so much for boosting vitamin D and for plain old getting us in a better mood.

Try to stop stewing the problem over and over and over in your head. This time of destressing can be such a rich, rewarding and really life altering time. Sometimes change is hard to embrace, but sometimes it is the best thing ever!