How do you manage Your stress?

ValuesVenture Competition

2009-06-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

Hello folks! SO ValuesVenture is ending today. But that does not mean that we will just end this blog like that. There is more to come! Its going to get much more interesting. We really want to thank everyone for supporting us till the end and we are grateful to have all of you. We are happy for those who have benefited from our findings. We are extremely elated to be given such an opportunity to help you with stress. Continue supporting us!

THANK YOU!

video on stress

2009-06-30T03:20:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, we have found a rather interesting video in YouTube on how you can manage stress. Please take a look at it and we hope it will help you!

CHEERS :)

2009-06-23T02:06:00.000-07:00

"Prevent"

There are simple things you can do to help your body and mind withstand stress. These will help you improve your immune system, your energy level, your self-esteem, and your sense of well-being.

1. Relaxation.
Relaxing regularly will help prevent stress.
Set aside just 15 minutes every day, whether you are feeling stressed or not.
Go through whatever relaxation procedures work best for you. Techniques such as yoga and stretching can be effective, as can progressive muscle relaxation.

2. Regular exercise.

If you know people who run, swim, or bicycle regularly, you may notice that they have less stress than others. When your body is in first-class condition, your mind and emotions will also benefit. Regular exercise is one excellent way to "stress-proof" yourself, or at reduce the bad effects of stress.Exercise can make you look better, sleep better, concentrate better, and withstand disease better. It will also improve your mood and make you feel better about yourself. The best exercise for stress-proofing is aerobic activity, which uses your whole body. This includes jogging, bicycling, brisk walking, cross-country skiing, aerobic dancing, swimming, rowing, skating, and stair-stepping.If you are not used to exercise, start with walking. Walk briskly for about 20 minutes, three times a week. As you get in shape, take longer walks, or switch to a more vigorous form of activity.
If you don't have access to a lake, mountain, or country road to row, ski, or bike on, substitute on machines at home or in a gym. But whenever you can, get out into nature. The quietness and change of scene will help your stress levels.

Need To Know:
Some exercise safety tips:
If you are over age 35 and not used to vigorous exercise, check with a doctor before you start, or stick to walking.
Begin every exercise session slowly (including walks), and don't speed up until your muscles are warm.
Don't race. Take the talk test. If you don't have enough spare breath to hold a conversation, slow down.
At the end of your exercise session, walk around slowly for a while to cool down.

3. Eating right.

You will be much better able to withstand stress if your body feels good, and it can't feel good if you don't feed it properly.
Make sure you have three good meals a day, with plenty of fruit, vegetables, and filling food like bread, rice, or noodles.
If you get hungry between meals, plan for a nutritious snack like fruit, yogurt, or a bagel. If you take a snack to work with you, you won't be tempted by junk food.
Eating well will give you a sense of control that can help to reduce your stress levels, as well as making you feel good physically.

Welcome Back.

2009-06-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

Hi, fellow readers.We are back and continuing with our stress management techniques, after a very long rest!

First before we start, we would like to thank all of you who have given us comments and advices on our blog, thank you very much.

Here is a new point on how to manage stress, we hope you enjoy it:

"Respond"

"Responding" in the days of early man meant fighting the source of stress or running away from it. Your body will still produce a physical "alarm response" that pumps stress hormones through your body, tensing your muscles and speeding up your heart. This "alarm response" in most cases doesn't do us any good - and it can be harmful.
You can learn to turn off the alarm response and regain control. You can learn to respond calmly, and deal actively and positively with your stress, whether it is caused by outside or internal

factors.

Two useful techniques for responding calmly are:

1. Time out.

A brief time out is the simplest possible approach to stress:
Stop the activity (or the conversation) that was causing you stress.
If you can move away, go to another room, or go for a short walk.
If you can't move away, count to 10 silently before you speak again.

2. Breathing.

You can often tell if people are under stress because of the way they are breathing. For example, customs officers have noticed that smugglers are the people taking fast, shallow breaths. If you learn to control your breathing, it will help you regain control over the effects of stress.
Abdominal breathing can be very soothing, because it slows you down. It is also efficient, bringing a good supply of oxygen to your brain.

Prepare for stressful times by practicing your breathing now:
Check your breathing pattern by putting one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach. If your lower hand moves and your top hand does not, you are doing abdominal breathing. But if your top hand moves and your bottom one does not, you are doing chest breathing.
To do abdominal breathing, get your stomach relax. Breathe in deeply, then breathe all the air out. Let your lungs fill with air again naturally, while your stomach expands.
Practice this "belly breathing" whenever you have spare time (eg. while you are driving).
Whenever you are stressed, worried, or tense, use your breathing to help calm yourself down. Take a deep breath and quietly let it go out completely, then let your abdomen expand as the air comes back into your lungs. Keep noticing your abdominal breathing for another few breaths.

For a variation on this breathing technique, try "10-to-one countdown" breathing:
Start with abdominal breathing, letting all the breath out and then allowing your abdomen to expand as your lungs fill up again.
When you breathe out again, say "10," letting go of tension as if it is being carried out of your body with the air.
Next time you breathe out, say "nine," and so on, all the way down to "one."
When you get to "one," start again.
Each time you breathe out, tell yourself you are letting go of tension.
Many people repeat this sequence slowly for a period of 15 to 20 minutes. They find that with each new countdown, they reach a deeper level of relaxation.

When we are under stress, we often feel things are happening too fast. Another technique, called slow-down breathing, can help you get settled down and in control. It starts with abdominal breathing, and uses cue words to help you focus and clear your mind. Examples of cue words are:
As you breathe in, silently say "calm".
As you breathe out, silently say "smiling" .
As you breathe in, say "present".
As you breathe out, say "now".

Practice breathing techniques for five or 10 minutes until you get the feel of it, then again several times a day for a few moments. Then it will be instantly ready to use as a "mini-tranquilizer" whenever you notice yourself starting to feel tense or out of control.

Other Ways To Manage Stress

2009-06-20T03:57:00.000-07:00

Here are some other ways to manage stress:

Humor
Many stress-management experts recommend keeping a sense of humor during difficult situations. Laughing releases muscle tension and helps a person maintain perspective. Activities as simple as watching a funny movie, listening to a tape of a comedian's routine, or sharing time with a humorous friend can provide a psychological lift and relieve stress.

Hobbies
Regular leisure activities are important in reducing stress. Many people benefit from making time for positive leisure pursuits rather than, for example, spending time watching television in the evening (although that, too, can be relaxing to some degree).Relaxing hobbies include gardening, painting, bicycling, photography, carpentry, collecting, and many others. In order to obtain the most relaxation and enjoyment, the satisfaction should come in doing the hobby, not in the results. An individual who pursues gardening for relaxation may not grow prize-winning vegetables, but they can be eaten. An amateur photographer may not sell photographs, but they can be admired by friends and family.

Meditation
Used for many years in Eastern cultures, meditation is becoming more widely accepted in the U.S. as a relaxation technique. Meditation reduces heart rate, blood pressure, adrenaline levels, and skin temperature.There are a variety of meditation techniques that share a common goal: to achieve relaxation by clearing the mind of stressful outside interferences. Meditation involves achieving a state of consciousness in which the individual focuses on a single thing, such as a key word, sound, or image.Meditation techniques rely on quiet surroundings, sitting still, and a repetitive mental pattern. Various techniques are taught in instruction books and through religious and nonreligious organizations.

Massage Therapy
Massage is the gentle practice of manipulating the body's tissues in order to soothe and heal. It is one of the most ancient of the healing arts, and more people today are relying on it for natural, drug-free relief from the effects of busy, overstressed lives. Massage can relax the entire body and provide new energy that lingers long after the massage is over. A number of research studies have shown that massage reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure,increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion, and increases the production of endorphins, which are the body's own natural painkillers.There are a number of massage therapy techniques, including Swedish massage and Shiatsu.Massages can be for the full body or particular areas of the body, such as the back and shoulders. Some people choose to wear some clothing during a massage; others prefer to undress or use a dressing gown. During a massage, the person is warmly covered, and only the part of the body on which the therapist is working is uncovered.

What Are Your Personal Signs Of Stress?

2009-06-18T04:05:00.000-07:00

People react to stress in different ways. Once you identify your own signs of stress, they can serve as your personal early warning system.

Think of yourself as a car that's equipped with lights and gauges to warn you if any problems are developing. If you keep an eye on the gauges and catch the trouble early, the problem may be easy to fix. If you ignore the warning signs, you may be in for a major repair job.

You should assess yourself for four types of stress signs:
• Changes in body functions and physical health
• Changes in emotions and feelings
• Changes in behaviour
• Changes in thoughts

jokes!

2009-06-17T03:32:00.000-07:00

STRESSED?!

READ THIS! LAUGH!

"What time does the library open?" the man on the phone asked.
"Nine A.M." came the reply. "And what's the idea of calling me at home in the middle of the night to ask a question like that?"
"Not until nine A.M.?" the man asked in a disappointed voice.
"No, not till nine A.M.!" the librarian said. "Why do you want to get in before nine A.M.?"
"Who said I wanted to get in?" the man sighed sadly. "I want to get out."

Stop and Smell the Roses

2009-06-09T04:08:00.000-07:00

Stop and Smell the Roses
“Things happen” and sometimes “bad things happen to good people”. If we let them, stressful events can build up, wall us in, and eventually stop us from enjoying the good things in life.

Take the time. Too often we put the pleasantries of life on the back burner, telling ourselves we don’t “have time” or can’t “make time” for them. However, actually, time is the only thing we do completely own. While we can’t “make” a day that’s longer than 24 hours, each of us starts the day with exactly that amount of time. Take a part of your time to recognize the good things in your life.
Sleep on it. Every coin has two sides and every issue has both pros and cons. List them both then put the list away and take a second look tomorrow. Sometimes “sleeping on” a situation changes the minuses to pluses.
Every cloud has a silver lining. After all, rain makes things grow! Ben Franklin found good in a bolt of lightning. Find the good in your stressful situation by listing the negative surges and determining what it will take to make them into positive charges!

“A Man's Got to Know His Limitations"

2009-06-06T04:19:00.000-07:00

Knowing yourself and your limits may be the most important way to manage stress effectively.

Dare to say no. One more little thing may be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back”. It’s okay to say “No”, “I can’t”, or “Later”.
Acquit yourself. Sometimes events really are out of control and you really are “Not Guilty”. Quit blaming yourself.
Be pro-active in finding peace. Those who unsuccessfully use the crutches of drugs and/or alcohol to alleviate stress often find themselves in a twelve-step program like A.A. where one of the mainstays is the Serenity Prayer:
“God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; The Courage to change the things I can; and the Wisdom to know the difference.”
When you need help, get help. Even Atlas couldn’t bear the weight of the world on his shoulders forever. Whether you need help from kids or spouse in hauling groceries into the house, help from a colleague to solve a work-related problem, or professional help to find the causes of and effectively manage your stress, getting the help you need is in itself a major stress management tip!

Some Other Tips

2009-06-03T04:21:00.000-07:00

These are some tips that are applicable in daily life:

Get a good night's rest.
Eat healthily.
Listen to your favorite music.
Exercise, participate in a sport or engage in fun activity.
Plan out your time and prioritize.
Talk to a friend about your problems, don't hold it in.
Get a massage.
Take a nap.
Take a warm bath.
Read a book or watch TV.

"Little things you do are those that make up a big part of your life."

What Causes Stress?

2009-04-29T04:24:00.000-07:00

We may think of stressful events as unpleasant ones, such as losing a job or having difficulties at home or at school. But changes for the better can also cause stress, like a new baby, a wedding, and a new house.

In an ideal world, maybe we could get away from stressful situations, or change them. Too often we can't do that - but we can learn to control our response to those situations. And we can develop techniques that will reduce the effects of stress on our mental and physical health.
Here are some different life events that are identified as stressful. They are rated on the "Holmes-Raye" scale, which scores them according to the stress they cause (the higher the number, the greater the stress).

Death of a spouse - 100 points
Divorce - 73 points
Marriage - 50 points
Pregnancy - 40 points
Buying a house - 31 points
Christmas - 12 points

And here are some jokes for the day!

Q: What has a mouth but no teeth?

A: A river.

Did you hear about the cat who swallowed a ball of yarn?

She had mittens!

Once upon a time, long long ago, in a land far far away there lived a woman who was just too busy! She decided to make a clone of herself so she could get twice as much work done. Well, the clone helped her a lot, but it also gave her a bad reputation because the clone constantly swore. One day, the woman couldn't take her clone's foul mouth anymore, so she took it to the top of a building and pushed it off. Soon after, the woman was arrested for making an obscene clone fall.

Well, hoped you enjoyed it! =)

STRESS MANAGEMENT 1

2009-04-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

AND poeple! the long awaited video is released! Hope it will help you!

By Guiding Light Team :)

2009-04-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

By Guiding Light Team

PREMIRE OF VIDEO 1

2009-04-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

HEY PEOPLE THE STRESS MANAGEMENT VIDEO IS GOING TO BE RELEASED SOON! SHOWING ON BLOG, 26/4/2009!!!

Will you be a victim of this?

2009-04-24T06:38:00.000-07:00

well this may look really scary, even i freaked out!!! but this is what many teenagers are going through these days..this is all because of stress-peer pressure, family matters, low self-esteem and many more! God has given everyone a wonderful body and we must be grateful of that! We must not destroy it and harm ourselves too! CHECK OUT THESE PICTURES!!( they are real)

Guilding Light Team

stress leading to suicide?!

2009-04-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

well so exams are coming and many of us will be encountering continuous tension and stress! i've heard many of my friends talking about suicide. so i want to explain to you guys what is this SUICIDE!

Start by considering this statement:

“Suicide is not chosen; it happens
when pain exceeds
resources for coping with pain.”

That’s all it’s about. You are NOT a bad person, or crazy, or weak, or flawed, because you feel suicidal. It doesn’t even mean that you really want to die - it only means that you have more pain than you can cope with right now. If I start piling weights on your shoulders, you will eventually collapse if I add enough weights... no matter how much you want to remain standing. Willpower has nothing to do with it. Of course you would cheer yourself up, if you could.

Don’t accept it if someone tells you, “that’s not enough to be suicidal about.” There are many kinds of pain that may lead to suicide. Whether or not the pain is bearable may differ from person to person. What might be bearable to someone else, may not be bearable to you. The point at which the pain becomes unbearable depends on what kinds of coping resources you have. Individuals vary greatly in their capacity to withstand pain.

When pain exceeds pain-coping resources, suicidal feelings are the result. Suicide is neither wrong nor right; it is not a defect of character; it is morally neutral. It is simply an imbalance of pain versus coping resources.

You can survive suicidal feelings if you do either of two things:

find a way to reduce your pain

find a way to increase your coping resources.

Maybe you can start off with speaking your mind out to someone whom you really trust-remember that the person must be trustworthy ans wise!

WITH LOVE,

Guilding Light Team

How Does Stress Affect The Body?

2009-04-18T01:53:00.000-07:00

To understand what stress does to us, imagine you lived tens of thousands of years ago, at a time when humans were threatened by hungry animals such as saber-toothed tigers and wolves. Our caveman ancestors had to be able to react instantly, either by fighting the beasts or simply, running away.

We, human beings, evolved having the ability to respond to a stressful situation instantly, by preparing the body for 'fight or flight.' Under sudden stress, you will get a burst of EXCEPTIONAL STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE, as your body pump out stress hormones:

Your heart speeds up

Blood flow to your brain and muscles increases up to 400%

Your digestion stops

Your muscle tension increases

You breathe faster, to bring more oxygen to your muscles

Sometimes, we can benefit from this 'fight or flight' response - like the case of a mother whose child was pinned under a concrete slab during a tornado. Under stress, she found the strength to lift the huge slab with her bare hands, even though it later took three men to move it.

But much of the time in modern life, the 'fight or flight' response wont help. Yet those stress hormones still flood your system, preparing you for physical action. And if you are under stress frequently, it can harm your physical health.

Guilding Light Team#

STRESS CHART

2009-04-14T06:57:00.000-07:00

This is a stress chart! Understand yourself well and ask yourself questions. Let me guide you.

Am i feeling stress?
What is the reason i am feeling stress?
Who/What is causing it to happen to me?
How do i overcome it in a beneficial manner? ( start spending time properly. like adopting a hobby, a pen pal, speaking to your most trusted friends and family )
Who can i trust and ask help?

Now judge yourself. Where are you standing on the stress chart! now that you have understood yourself, START TAKING ACTION!!!!

Guilding Light Team

what kind of jobs?

2009-04-14T06:47:00.000-07:00

NICE-TO-KNOW :)

Job-realted stress is extremely common. According to the Jobs Rated Almanac, the 5 most stressful jobs are:

President of United States

Firefighter

Senior COrporate Executive

Race car driver

Taxi driver

The least 5 stressful jobs are:

Medical records technician

Janitor

Forklift operator

Musical Instrument repairer

Florist

So start planning now! Think of your ambition and how to fullfil it. But always remeber to consider the amount of stress you might have. Can you manage it? Are you ready mentally and physically to do it? Motivate yourself and i am sure anything is possible! so friends, i challenge you to think about your ambition today. Do a small research about it and start working to achieve it!

Guiding Light Team

What is stress & its symptoms

2009-04-13T06:46:00.000-07:00

YES, many of us often complain that we are feeling stressed! Well, let me tell you what stress is! Stress is the emotional and physical strain caused by our respond to pressure from the outside world.

The mental symptoms of stress:

Tension

Irritability

Inability to concentrate

Feeling excessively tired

Trouble sleeping

The physical symptoms of stress:

Headache

Fast heartbeat

Murmuring
Dry Mouth
Difficulity Breathing
Stomach Upset
Frequent Urination
Sweating Palms
Tight muscles that might cause pain or trembling

However, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE WITHOUT STRESS!!! This problems that comes along your way actually gives life some excitement and add spice to your life. But, if it gets out of control, it may harm your health, relationships, and your enjoyment of life!

So friends, lets do this slowly. Let us take one step further. Treat all these tensions like a hurdle, an obstacle! Once you have completed it, i will promise you that you are going to be rewarded with a HUGE TROPHY!!!

~Guiding Light Team :) ~

Welcome to One and All :D

2009-04-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

How do you view stress?
Is it something that makes you go absolutely insane?
Is it something that can make you cry 3 days 3 nights?
Is it something that is a path to your success?

Its impossible not to have stress, the only thing you can do is to learn how to cope and manage it. Not by ending your life or putting your life at risk. Not to mention about cutting your own wrist or take drugs and smoke your life away. However, these are the methods most teenagers result to. And because of that, we decided to focus on this topic and we are going to let you know about the other better ways to overcome your stress.

Last but not least, Welcome & please support us :)

-Guiding Light Team :D