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Biggest Source Of Stress: Yourself
But That Also Means You Can Provide The Relief. Exercise Is The Surefire Self-Medication
Many people say they feel "stressed out" even before their feet hit the floor in the morning. And it's no wonder.
We gulp down our meals while chauffeuring our kids. We squeeze domestic chores in between business deadlines and family crises. We seldom spend a half-hour alone, enjoying quiet time and contemplation. 
Prolonged stress often causes disease, especially heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure. We tend to think that much of our stress is caused by external factors. But in reality, experts believe most stress is self-generated and internal.
Where Does It Come From?
There are two kinds of stressors: external and internal. External ones include environmental and social factors such as: - Stimuli like bright lights, noise, confined spaces
- Mini-crises like a thunderstorm that knock out the electricity to your house
- Arguing or interacting with rude and aggressive people
- Daily hassles such as "red tape," deadlines, rush-hour commuting
- And major life events such as losing your job or the death of a loved one
Internal factors -- those over which we do have some control -- include: - Overworking
- Overloaded schedules
- Unrealistic expectations
- Lack of sleep
- Personalities that are people-pleasing, perfectionist or workaholic
- And self-critical or overanalytical personalities
Find out what kind of personality you have by taking an on-line personality test.
Guess Who's In Charge?
Decreasing the stress in your life means taking control of your life. Mastering stress means making lifestyle changes. Observe who you are. Discover what kinds of situations make you feel tense, angry or depressed. Then find ways to modify your behavior when similar stressors come up in the future.
The Magic Pill: Vitamin 'E' For Exercise
The most effective way to reduce stress is through exercise. Someone once said that if exercise were a pill, it would be the most powerful medication known to humans. The most difficult part is getting men and women to swallow that exercise pill. A high percentage of CEOs at fortune 500 companies say that they exercise on a regular basis. Is it mere coincidence that these CEOs, who work and thrive in pressure-cooker, think-tank environments for decades, are some of the most successful men and women of their generation?
To rate and compare your exercise habits, try this quiz on the MSNBC site.
Guidelines For Exercise
- If you only have time for one physical activity, choose an aerobic exercise, like running, swimming, brisk walking, bicycling, rowing, advanced aerobics classes or jumping rope.
- Avoid exercise that is competitive. If you lose, you'll be disappointed in yourself and feel stressed.
- Exercising only on the weekends won't significantly reduce stress. Try to do something aerobic and physical at least four times a week. Exercising everyday is best of all because it decreases the effects of the stress from that day and prepares you for the stressors ahead.
- Pick an exercise that you enjoy. Forcing yourself to run if you hate to run will only leave you feeling depressed and stressed.
Almost half of us suffer adverse health side effects from stress. Exercising four times a week will help you to cope with the everyday stressors of life and will greatly improve your mental and physical health.
Jacqueline Tresl, RN, has worked as a coronary intensive care nurse and a nursing supervisor for over 20 years. For the past three years, she has written about health and happiness for numerous magazines and newspapers. Her first book, "Whoever Heard of a Horse In The House?" is scheduled for release in March 2000.
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