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Take a break to deal with your stress

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ANN ANONYMOUS/Teen Columnist

Stress. In some form or another, we all have it. Believe it or not, some stress is exceptionally helpful for you. Other forms of stress can be hazardous to your health. Avoiding falling into its exasperating grasp is a difficult skill — one we all need to develop.

Beneficial stress includes that which pushes you to strive for your goals, such as the drive to get an education, the determination to purchase your first house, the ambition to start your own business, or the motivation to pursue your dreams. Behind all of these successes, lies stress. Unscrupulous stress such as that that makes you ill, or that causes distress or anxiety can create a collapse of organization in your life. Some of these can include the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or perhaps an accident. These types of stressors can be exceedingly dangerous.

Stress not only puts strain on your life, but did you know we also physically experience it? It places tension on your entire body including muscles nervous system and all your vital organs, not to mention your mind and thought processes. This in turn results in fatigue, depression and dejection of varying degrees. To distinctly separate between constructive and detrimental stress, you need to be able to draw boundaries for yourself. You need to be able to decipher whether the goals you set for yourself are reasonable and attainable given where you are in your life. This way you ensure stress and the sense of failure you feel when you are unable to reach a set goal, don’t overwhelm and defeat you.

Stress relievers are immensely important when you are dealing with multiple concerning aspects of life. Instead of getting apprehensive about things, pause for a moment. Work out solution in your mind, however plausible, and breathe. Connecting with your breath is probably “the” most important aspect of self-care. If only for a second, imagine all your anxiety taking off, moving away from you. Believe that things will work out. When you breathe into a problem, you oxygenate your brain and body systems, giving them the message to “slow down!”

Rest is particularly imperative when you are dealing with stress. When you sleep, your body is in a state of total relaxation. If you are tense throughout the day, that relaxation will help even out your body’s much needed balance and allow healing.

When dealing with any form of stress, be it helpful or harmful; remember the need for breaks, boundaries, and balance. In this you will find success.

—To contact Ann Anonymous during the postal dispute, please send your comments to the editor.