De-Stress Zone

Your Breast Defense

This may not be considered a stress issue but is very important.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
To find out how you can participate, here are some web sites.

www.komen.org
www.positivepromotions.com

Breathing

One of the first keys to relaxation and calm is to learn some basic breathing strategies. Many of the illnesses being treated with drugs or medications are illnesses which are a direct result of stress and anxiety. Some examples are, high blood pressure, high cholesteral and irregular heart rhythm. One of the things that all of us can do to begin producing a calming effect in our own lives is totally free, and that is to learn to breathe.
Abdominal breathing is the most effective and correct way to breathe. Most of us breathe in a very shallow manner using the upper to mid chest. We have been taught to hold our abdomen or stomach in so as to not look "fat" around the belly and essentially have trained ourselves to breathe inefficiently.

Here is something you can do almost any place at almost any time. Just take a few moments to pay attention or focus on your breathing. At first don't attempt to alter your breathing, just pay attention to how you are breathing.
Then begin to regulate your breathing by allowing your stomach to expand when you inhale and relax when you exhale. Now breathe in and out focusing on enabling your breathing to become deeper,slower, quieter and more regular.
Do this periodically throughout your day. You can do this while sitting at a red light or even while in a meeting. If you do meditation or prayer do this for a few moments first. Just put your mind in neutral for a few moments, and breathe.
Not only is this good therapy, remember, it's also free.

Kids Do Say The Darndest Things

What do you call a sad tree?
A weeping willow (Jennifer, 8)

What does a vampire call his parents?
Mummy and batty (Esther, 9)

Why do seagulls fly over the sea and not the bay?
Because they don't want to be called bagels (Veronica, 12)

List To Live By

I do not know where the following originated. I did not write it. I received it in my e-mail today from a friend. I think it is well worth the read. If you wrote it or know who did, I will be glad to give full credit to the author.

More Food for thought

"Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then
beat you with experience."

Todays Thought

As I study the topic of stress and learn some of its causes, I am repeatedly reminded that stress can cause illness and disease. I am also learning that there is an acceptable, even healthy, amount of day-to-day stress. In other words too much stress on a regular basis can cause us to become ill if we do not take action to counter it's effect upon us. However too little stress can also cause us to become ill. For instance if you have a dull, mundane, repetitive job which offers no new challenge, this can result in a lot of tension and stress that you are maybe not aware of. On the other hand you may have a job which presents new demands every day and the pressures go way beyond your ability to manage or accomplish what needs to be done. Multiple studies have shown that somewhere between these two extremes is a healthy area.

If you have a job that is boring, dull and un-challenging, one thing you might do is to ask for some added responsibility. If you experience the other extreme, and it is within your power to do so, try delegating some of your tasks to others. Sometimes we can say no but are afraid of how that might be perceived. You aren't doing yourself or anyone else any favors if you cannot give your tasks the attention required, or leave tasks half completed.

One of the biggest causes of job stress is the inability or unwillingness of people to properly communicate thier needs, desires, and expectations.