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How Stressful Thinking Impacts You

Most of us experience tension daily, often it's hour by hour or worse minute to minute. How we cope with stress and worry determines whether we move forward or allow it to hold us back. Habitual negative thinking is often frenzied, inaccurate, and undependable, yet you can go through your entire life with negative thoughts that cause unproductive behavior and a more difficult life. Most people dealing with stress especially chronic stress assume that there's no getting around it, and its just the way life has to be. But this is certainly not the case!

Silencing the habitually negative mind is easier than you imagine and it all starts with a single positive thought.

How Your Negative Mind Effects Your Positive Aspirations

A negative mind not only regulates the way you approach life, it also has a tremendous impact on your physical body, and with your mind body connection working against homeostasis rather then in flow having a negative impact on your health. When you switch off negative thoughts and turn on positive thinking, you have the power to move toward a healthier more productive and creative you. With time and effort, you can transform your thought process, and it's quite simple actually, because it all begins with just a few simple words.

The Power of A Few Words...

When you see a list of affirmations, you see absolutely nothing more than a list of words with optimistic expressions that do not appear to apply to you or embody your current way of thinking. If you take a closer look at each affirmation, you may find that many embrace the way you wished you could feel and think.

When you see words that speak to you and how you'd like to feel, hold onto them. You can use them to get rid of a unwelcome idea you wish to eliminate. Fundamentally, with practice, you will be replacing your negative thinking pattern with a positive thinking. This is exactly what positive affirmations are all about!

But let me caution you here. In order for your affirmations to be effective they have to meet the following criteria:

Affirmations have to be in your own voice. They need to be phrased and spoken the way you speak.

Your affirmations should be phrased and said in the same way that you would say them to a friend. After all, your mind is your friend. In fact, it's one of your best friends.

Words are a powerful way to evoke emotions both positive and negative. Use affirmation that speaks to you on a deep level and keep them in the forefront of your mind by repeating these words often. By doing this you create room for your new thoughts to germinate and grow until these thoughts become a reality. Again the trick is to use words that are meaningful to you and say them in the same way you normally speak.

If at some point, as we all do, you may become overwhelmed with negative thinking, if that happens simply close your eyes and take a few deep breaths until your emotions become a little bit more under control. Then use your affirmations to interrupt your thinking pattern.

One final thought... the past is a closed door you can choose to keep going back into that unfilled and stressful room or you can choose another door. So let's set a few ground rules:

Ground Rules Eliminate Negative thinking

1. You must start by being honest with yourself and make a sincere commitment to make changes

2. You must develop a deep passion to get rid of stressful thinking

3. You must be willing to embrace new strategies and give yourself permission to be creative

4. Give yourself a break when your old patterns re-appear as they undoubtedly will. Don't beat yourself up just begin again.

Does this sound as well great to be true? There are many people who, like you, believe this technique is well... just too easy so it can't possibly work.. The only way to know for certain is to try it. What do you have to lose? No one has to know your using affirmation it's personal and private. After all it's all in your mind. It's easy convenient and you can take them wherever you go.

Overwhelm: The First Step Toward the Cure

Hurry! Multitask! Go! Go! Go! Doesn't it feel like a drill sergeant is constantly pushing us? Whether it's in the office, out of the office or in our heads, the pressure doesn't let up. Always busying ourselves, scouring online news so we don't miss anything, sleeping less, worrying more - it's all overwhelming.

To be overwhelmed is to be buried or drown beneath a huge mass. That "huge mass" may be your never-ending To Do List or the paralysis of wondering what to do next. It physically and emotionally affects you. The symptoms of overwhelm include confusion, frustration, depression, insomnia and anxiety.

Anxiety is a sign from your subconscious mind to focus on what you want. But how can you focus when American society is strongly encouraging you to multitask and do more with less?

Focus is what is lacking when people become overwhelmed. Before moving into action, before climbing that mountain of a To Do List, let's simply focus (or refocus). Let's center ourselves.

Set aside time this week (today if possible) to do that what centers you. Whether it's meditating, praying, exercising, playing the piano or surfing, do what recharges you. Find what works for you or go back to an old stand-by activity that has helped you center yourself in the past. Centering yourself allows for a sound and calming perspective; it allows you to better focus.

Mike Dwyer, a web designer and web developer in San Diego, writes on his website The Flying Peanut about how surfing provides him perspective. Here is an excerpt from Dwyer's first article on the site "How I got salty and learned to love the bomb":

Surfing saved my soul.

And I don't mean in a, "I used to be addicted to crack cocaine, but then I started surfing... " way.

I mean in a, "holy crap, please save me from my iPhone and Starbucks and microwave chicken nuggets," way. I don't mean surfing saved my life; I mean it saved my soul. It brought me direct access to the spiritual in my everyday life. Let's face it, your job is pretty trivial on a morning where you've ripped a few turns on a head-high wave, or had that same head-high wave curl over and drop a few gallons of white water forcefully on your head.

According to Psychology Today's article "Overwhelmed? 5 ways to focus your life," we need to take this break for the sake of our subconscious (here referred to as the "unconscious"). Creativity demands you have periods of time where you don't think about work or problems. The more complex a situation, the more you overload your brain. When you occasionally distract yourself with something mindless or a physical activity, you give your unconscious a chance to sort through possible solutions.

Give yourself a break to do that what centers you. You will gain perspective and focus (or refocus) your efforts. Do it this week (or today). This is the first step in the cure for overwhelm. It's the step that our society won't push on you; you must take this step by yourself and for yourself.

Relaxation With the Senses

In the restless world around us, the need for a moment of peace is often acutely felt. Living in this century resembles some old movie, where people of the future became robots, doing all day long the same routine. The sense of not "enough time" or "too many responsibilities" is so frequent that it's a wonder our bodies don't collapse.

No wonder more and more people search for a way to ease this pressure. Many books, videos and courses offer an answer, simple at first sight, but challenging for the usual wandering mind. The solution is RELAXATION.

Many of us heard this advice from their friends, doctor, colleagues and bosses, but we just can't master the feeling. How can we relax when there are so many things demanding our attention and problem solving capabilities? I'm sure there are lots of different methods to do it, some easier to approach than others, but the one I've tested and seemed pleasant and efficient enough to repeat, is relaxation with the senses.

Let's see what this means by taking a closer look.
Relaxation implies a comfortable place to sit, stand or lay on; but it also means a state of mind that transposes you to another place and time. Sometimes, the place and time disappear altogether. This is where your senses intervene.

SIGHT is one of the most used physical sense, and it highly influences our perception of things. In the process of relaxation, even if our eyes are closed, we can still make use of it... in our imagination - by remembering beautiful places and sweet moments of our lives or creating new and wonderful ones. See the colors and shapes in your mind, bathe in the light of your own universe or enjoy the calming shadows of past events. Your physical eyes may be resting, but a whole new world opens before your inner sight.

HEARING is the sense that helps us recognize people and connect with the environment. A familiar sound often heightens our emotions. Using sounds in our relaxation process will help us reach that state much faster. A way of doing it can be playing a pleasant music in the background, but this is not the only method. Try to combine sight with hearing in your imagination. "Hear" the sounds in your memories or in the new made up experiences. The more senses you use, the more realistic it will feel.

TOUCH brings everything a consistency that makes it reliable. Imagine the way things feel, and see yourself touching all around you. Touch your hands, face, hair, the objects you have beside you, feel the warmth or chill of the environment.

TASTE and SMELL are linked together. When you smell something usually you can feel its taste in your mouth.

Use these powerful sensations to define your mental image and help your body relax. The advantage in using all your senses to enter into a relaxed state is that you are less susceptible to distractions.

Being in your own safe and wonderful place tricks the mind and makes it believe the truth you are building. It also acts like a closed door to the world around you, that only you can open at your own accord.

Even if this exercise does not come easy to you from the start, don't give up. Practice it until you'll be the master of your thoughts and thus the lord of your body.

Learn How Eliminating This One Simple Food Can Help Reduce and Eliminate Your Stress!

According to a study conducted at the University of Irvine California, coffee and other drinks containing large amount of caffeine (like energy drinks) are one of the leading contributors of stress in our culture today. This is because caffeine is a mild stimulant, and the reason it "wakes you up" is because it is putting your body on edge.

Most of you know that our bodies have a natural "fight or flight" response to dangerous situations. However, what most people DON'T know is that this response kicks in during seemingly harmless situations, introduction to caffeine to the body is one of these situations. Stimulants (no matter how mild) trick your body into a kind of "fight" response which in turn causes stress on your body.

Interestingly enough if something causes you to get stressed out that ALSO puts your body into the fight or flight response mode. creating even more stress! It really is a horribly vicious cycle! The trick is figuring out HOW to get out of that cycle, and begin living a happy, healthy. and stress free life!

There is an exception to the caffeine rule however, and this is tea. Caffeine containing teas have a unique chemical structure that releases the energy over the course of five or so hours as opposed to the two hour release window of coffee and energy drinks. This short release is what causes physical stress and the all too familiar caffeine crash. But with tea the realease is so gradual that it really does act as a mild pick me up without the crash and side effects of coffee!

"This article is supposed to be about stress, why have you been talking about coffee so much?" Very good question. The reason this article has put such an emphasis on caffeine is because of one very important reason, I wished to illustrate a point. And that point is that even the smallest things can have disproportionately HUGE effects on your levels of stress and anxiety. There is a seemingly endless list of things that can have a major (negative) impact on your levels of stress, in fact there are so many that it completely impractical to attempt to cover them all. The more effective and worthwhile method is to identift root causes of stress, and how to defeat those. Once you learn this secret you will truly be on the path to living a stress and anxiety free life forever!

Until next time,

Triston Brooks

3 Ways Stress Can Kill You - Techniques To Deal With Unrelenting Stress

Being Exposed To Unrelenting Stress Can Cause Chronic Health Issues

While some stress is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact some people perform better under with a certain amount of stress being brought to bear on them, but too much stress can have a massively negative affect on your physical & mental health.

Stressed out people are not only susceptible to depression but their relationships with loved ones & work colleagues can be put under so much strain that they eventually break down completely apart from the physical impact that stress has on our health.

3 Ways That Stress Can Cause Chronic Disease & Serious Health Problems

1. Heart Disease

People who fail to deal with their stress effectively, are exposed to heart disease amongst other chronic diseases.

In fact stressed out people not only have a higher risk of having a heart attack, but also may not be able to deal with it as well as a more relaxed heart attack patient.

2. Cancer

Not only does excessive stress weaken the immune system, it also weakens the effect of cancer fighting drugs so much so that cancer cells can flourish in a stressed out body.

3. Stroke

People who do not manage or deal with their stress effectively are at a higher risk of

suffering from a stroke at some stage of their lives.

The above are just a few instances of how stress can affect your health & is by no means conclusive as a poorly managed stress can affect people in many other ways.

It is therefore vitally important that everyone who is exposed to the daily challenges that life throws at us, takes steps to manage their stress effectively before it kills you.

Holistic Guide To Dealing With Stress Forever

To deal with your stress and enjoy a happy and fulfilling life, you need to employ a holistic program that uses certain principles that tackle the stressors in our lives.

These stressors can include things like, work conflict, relationship issues, money problems, failures, poor diet, lack of sleep which all contribute to a dangerous situation of being stressed out.

You need to know how to deal with these stressful situations so that you can become stronger in both an emotional and psychological way.

In fact physical fitness plays an important role in overcoming depression & emotional stress.

In conclusion the key to effective stress management is in identifying the primary stressors in your life and addressing them with the right techniques to allow you to live a stress-free life with the inner & outer strength & resilience to cope with work, financial, relationship & any other challenge that life throws at you.

How To Go On Vacation When You Can't Go On Vacation

This article was written a few days ago, before I went on vacation. Yes, I am on a short vacation. I plan to relax, enjoy and recharge. I really need it! So does the rest of my family. We have visions of just enjoying one another and our friends that we are going to meet up with. It's not always possible to physically go on vacation, but it is necessary to at least go on a mental and emotional vacation.

Some ideas for how to go on vacation, when you can't go on vacation:

1. Put something visually relaxing in your work space. What are the places you enjoy? I have a screen saver picture of the beach. When I look at it I can almost smell the ocean and feel the warmth of the sun. Another picture I have is of a favorite family vacation that we took a while ago. When I look at that picture, I relax, enjoying a good memory, remembering a time when life slowed down for a little while.

2. Plan time into your schedule to do something you enjoy. I'm talking about something simple, inexpensive and relaxing. I enjoy sitting by the fire with a good book, or going for a long run alone. I make time for something that will help me to clear my mind. I'm always fresher when I come back, which makes me more efficient and effective.

3. Sit down and actually plan for a real vacation, or plan for that dream home or whatever it is for you. Put together a collection of materials, photos, brochures, ideas of what you are working towards. This can help you to keep at it when the days get long and tough. You can pull that collection out and remember that you are working towards something that is going to be great.

These are just three ideas. They don't appear to be life changing, but they could be. Not going on a mental and emotional vacation can be like trying to drive your car full speed while it's in second gear. Pushing on that accelerator, burning out your engine and getting nowhere fast. Continue to do that and eventually you will have a whole new set of problems.

So stop, make time to "get away" each week. Make time to recharge, and cast that vision for the future when all your work will pay off.

Stress Management - 5 Amazing Steps to Cultivate Calmness

The ability to maintain your calm in a super-busy life is a difficult task. But it is possible to achieve that sense of calmness if you want. Having a sense of tranquility, calm and peace in your life will ensure that you live your life to the fullest. Here are steps to cultivate a sense of calm in your life.

Step #1

Believe in your inner self

Being calm is not as difficult as it is made out to be. In fact, it can be done with ease. No matter what situation you are facing in your physical world, maintaining a sense of calm will ensure that you are able to deal with the problems easily. You may not feel like it, but the truth is that each one of us has an inner treasure trove of hidden resources. The idea is to believe that you can be calm and use the resources within you to be calm and take control of your life and the present situation. Stop depending on others and start taking responsibility for your life. Having control over your work, relationships and family is the best way to be calm.

Step #2

Pay attention to your thoughts

This is what meditation is all about. Being calm has a lot to do with giving attention to what you are thinking and feeling. Spend some time every day sitting with a straight back on a chair and concentrate on your thoughts as they drift by. Don't let a particular thought grab your attention fully and instead be the 'watcher'. When you meditate like this every day, you gain control of your mind on various levels.

Step #3

Stop your mind from 'monkey-ing around'

Yes, the mind actually behaves like a monkey as it jumps from one thought to the next. Worries, tensions, fears, criticisms and demands basically ruin the enjoyment of living. Whenever you find your mind wandering away and creating worry-thoughts in your mind, ask it to stop. Take charge of your mind and say no to all those negative thoughts that create havoc in your life.

Step #4

Do something Meaningful

Research has shown that people who do something in their lives other than eating, sleeping and watching television are happier and therefore calmer. When you do something productive in your life, you automatically have a sense of calm because of your own usefulness. Get a job, be a good parent or take up a hobby - do something in your life that make you feel good yourself.

Step #5

Focus on your strengths

Each person has strengths and weaknesses. Instead of focusing your thoughts on your weaknesses, spend your energy on your strengths. If you believe you are strong, you are going to feel calm and confident within as well.

When the Right Support Group Goes Wrong: Action Steps to Take

Years ago, my husband and I participated in family support groups. Each meeting was a learning experience. One thing I learned is that you can't be a passive member. A person with a dominant personality may try to control the group. This isn't good for that person it isn't good for for you.

When you commit to this proactive step, keep in mind that meetings will fluctuate and some go better than others. But if meetings start to fall apart and upset you, it's time to remedy the situation. What can you do?

1. Ask the dominant person to share time. Start out with a compliment, such as, "You've made many good points during our sessions and I've learned from them. Other members have helpful comments too, and I hope you will make time for them." There are no inflammatory words here and, if you speak in a calm voice, the person may do as you ask.

2. Review the rules. When someone joins a gathering he or she agrees to follow the basic rules. Maybe it's time for a reminder. Your reminder may be verbal or printed on a handout. Members may wish to identify rules which have been followed and those that have not.

3. Understand the difference between empathy and sympathy. Robert Bolton, PhD, examines the difference in his book, People Skills: How to Assert Yourself, Listen to Others, and Resolve Conflicts. He thinks sympathy can be over-involvement in the life of another person and can be condescending. In contrast, empathy is the ability to understand another person's feelings and what causes them. "The empathetic person communicates with the other in such a way that the other feels accepted and understood," he writes.

4. Skip a meeting. A brief time away may help you assess the situation and the group's dynamics. If you think you need time off, tell the facilitator and the members. "I'm taking next week off to think a bit," is something you might say. Use this option cautiously, however, because it can turn into avoidance. When my husband and I participated in family groups, the meetings became smaller and smaller. Husbands and wives attacked each other and it was terrible to witness. At the end, we were the only couple left.

5. Form a new group. In her book, The Courage to Grieve, author Judy Tatelbaum tells how she created a woman's consciousness-raising group with seven others. Six weeks later, members were so fond of each other they decided to keep going. "We became sort of an extended family to rely on in all times of need," she explains. Before you create the group, find a trained facilitator.

This is a time for patience. Treat others as you would like to be treated and trust they will do the same. Remember the purpose of the group and why you joined. Help yourself in other ways -- eating a balanced diet, walking to relieve stress, meditating each day, reading books about your problem. All of these proactive steps will help you find your way and find the solutions you're seeking.

Copyright 2014 by Harriet Hodgson

How To Cope With Workplace Stress

I am sure you must have come across so many people, who suffer from work related stress. This is especially true for people, who work in the private sector (particularly IT field) as working under pressure has become a daily occurrence for them. Some of the stressful issues that the private sector employees face include deadlines, projects changes and critical outages. Although, some workplace stress is normal, but excessive stress can result in decline in your productivity. Moreover, it has been seen numerous times that it results in negatively impacting our physical and emotional health. It all depends on an individual's capacity to deal with such pressure that can decide the success or failure of his career.

Although, there are many circumstances in the workplace that we cannot control; however, it does not means that you are helpless and cannot do anything. Even if you cannot stop happening of certain things, still you can find ways to come out of those difficult situations. We should also keep a solid control over our emotions and should convert them into the energy, which is required to deal with the workplace pressure. Most of the time it has been seen that the reason of stress is work overload. Instead of panicking, I would advice you to follow a step-by-step process to finish your work. Just analyze the situation carefully and come up with a work plan rather than being hasty.

If you are under pressure, then you can also ask your colleagues to help you out. Take their suggestions before reaching any decision. If there is any task that you can delegate to others, then ask others for cooperation. Moreover, you should never focus on the outcome as it will become a hindrance in your work. Just keep doing your work irrespective of the outcome.

Conflict at your workplace can also be a cause of stress; thus, it is better to stay away from conflict and maintain cordial relations with your colleagues. You should be aware about what your boss expects from your. It is better to keep asking your boss at regular intervals about your progress, because this will enable you to change your working strategies if you are short of your targets.

You can follow the above mentioned tips to reduce workplace stress; however, still there are many situations that we cannot control or find difficult to manage. If you face such a situation, then it is better to accept the situation and this will certainly reduce some of your stress. I feel that there is no point stressing out regarding such a problem that is beyond your control.

The bottom line is -THINK POSITIVE ALWAYS.

Stress: Fight the Silent Killer

Causes of Stress

Believe it or not, but stress begins at your doorstep. A challenging situation, difference of opinion, high expectations, death or sickness of a loved one can or even lack of proper sleep all contribute in some little way to causing you stress. Stress can be because of personal, economic, social or religious causes which can be controllable to a great extent or it can be because of situational or external factors or events which may not be directly controllable.

Personal Factors: that can cause stress include personality characteristics and coping skills, expectations from family and others, eating and sleeping habits and rigidity. If your income cannot support your family, your job prospects are low or if you have sudden expenses, you could be under stress due to economic reasons.

Situational factors: over which you may have no control, such as deaths or births, divorce, altercation with neighbors, illness or retirement, financial loss, or unsuccessful completion of daily activities could all lead to domestic stress.

Changing value systems: Increasing ambitions, growing desires and a tendency to become more and more materialistic has become the order of the day. We all want to be rich and successful and for that we struggle very hard and that takes a toll on your health and consequently increases stress.

Your personality: can also determine how stress prone you are. If you are constantly worried about what will happen and what could happen, there will be no end to your stress. Another factor that adds to your stress is your belief systems. These affect your personality directly. Beliefs are what you have acquired from your family and society and these affect your characteristics, behavior and thoughts. The way you perceive stress, your lifestyle, your working style, attitude towards others and priorities all depend on your personality.

Health Problems Due To Stress

Excessive stress over a long period of time can cause several physiological disorders that can drain your mental and physical resources. Prolonged stress can make you prone to major health disorders, which can be life-threatening, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or cancer. In fact, an estimated 50-80 per cent of all diseases are stress related.

Tension Headache and Migraine: You've swallowed pills, tried all kinds of balms and even had a massage, but to no avail. That throbbing in your head just won't go away. If that's the case, then you better sit up and take note. You are suffering from stress-related headaches and migraines.

When the muscles around the head remain tense for some time, they may cause a headache. The contradiction of muscles in the scalp, neck and forehead cause tension headache, while a migraine is felt as a throbbing headache. Often associated with nausea or vomiting, these occur due to abnormal blood flow in the blood vessels of the head.

Hypertension (high blood pressure): It is unfortunate but true that stress and high blood pressure have become synonymous today. The frantic pace of work, meetings, deadlines, traveling, split-second decisions all extract the maximum from the individual. This is often reflected by an increase in blood pressure.

Chronic Fatigue: A persistent feeling of fatigue and tiredness is the commonest symptom of stress. Fatigue is a feeling of not having adequate energy to carry on, a strong desire to rest, sleep or stop all activity. This can develop due to physical or mental exertion and drain you of all your energy.

Diabetes Mellitus: Chronic stress has been associated with the development of insulin resistance, a condition where the human body is unable to use insulin effectively to regulate glucose (blood sugar). Since diabetes means rigid dietary and medical control, it adds to stress that is often beyond the individual's coping and adaptive capabilities.

Muscular Skeletal Problems: Chronic pains as caused by arthritis and other conditions may be intensified by stress to such an extent that they become incapacitating.

Sleep Disorders: Excessive stress can manifest itself as insomnia, where a person has difficulty in falling asleep. In reverse case, stressed out individual may prefer to sleep excessively to avoid tension.

Weight Problems: Stress can have varying effects on your appetite and weight. Some people may suffer from a loss of appetite and lose weight, while others may develop cravings for food and sugar to counteract tension and in the process gain weight. In rare cases, stress may trigger excessive activity of the thyroid gland causing your body to burn up calories faster than the normal rate.

Palpitations: Palpitations are defined as 'abnormal awareness of one's own heart beat.' A normal heart beat ranges between 60-80 beats per minute. But during mental or physical exertion the rate may rise to 180 beats per minute. Those who are stressed may feel a rapid pounding of the heart occurring suddenly due to no apparent reason, or may even feel a skipped beat.

Peptic Ulcer: Believe it or not but stress can also cause peptic ulcers. Normally the microns layer secreted by the stomach protects the inner lining of the stomach, the esophagus (the food pipe) and the first position of the small intestine. Stress can cause this inner lining to be eroded by excessive production of digestive acid, and diminished production of the microns. Thus the individual will experience sharp bouts of sudden pain when the acid comes in contact with the eroded lining.

So the next time you have either of these problems, chances are that you are suffering from stress. It's time you learnt how to manage and control your stress before you are the next victim.

Managing Stress

There are various ways by which you can mange the increasing stress levels in your life:

Exercise: Regular exercise is like a weapon when fighting stress. It not only makes you more agile but also makes you a happier person and gives you all the positive energy that you require. Exercise is necessary in order to keep the body healthy, physically and mentally.

Massage: A potent remedy to manage your stress. Not only can you indulge in self-massage, you can help others too by the power of touch. Breathing correctly and muscular relaxation are techniques, which will help you control stress. They are easy-to-do and help in making you feel relaxed.

Yoga and Meditation: The ancient practices of meditation and yoga also serve as perfect antidotes to manage stress. However, it's not enough to merely know about the techniques the onus lies on you to derive the desired effect by making a positive effort towards actually doing it.

Lifestyle Changes: In addition to these techniques, you can also control your stress by making changes in your lifestyle. Eat right, relax, quit smoking, sleep properly and have mastery over your time. Once you accomplish these, your stress will vanish making you feel fitter and lighter.

Five Tips to Helping You Avoid a Panic Attack

Has your breathing become shallow, and quick, and your heart is pounding against your chest? If you are sweating like a pig and consequently feeling hot and cold at the same time, then beware you might be having an attack and need to stop an episode. People often misinterpret these syndromes as heart attacks, but beware this is a panic attack.

Stop A Panic Attack - Acknowledge and accept

The most important and vital step is to identify that you are having an attack. Only after you acknowledge and accept that you are having a panic attack can you take the necessary steps and measures to control it. You have to realize on your own that you are experiencing an attack. Only after you accept the fact can you take necessary measures to control it and then follow the next following four steps.

Stop A Panic Attack - Physical Relaxation Techniques

First and foremost way to handle a panic attack is by sitting down and calming yourself. Running around will only worsen the situation as will experience adrenaline coursing through your body and worsening the situation, and will only aggravate the condition. So the best is to find the nearest sitting place and also put your legs in alignment with the body, and start long breathing. Try to visualize and feel your breath in every part of your body as if it's relaxing each part with each breath. Concentrate on your breathing and you will feel better.

Stop an attack from happening

The vest way to overcome an episode is to keep your mind off the incident or series of incidents and situation that has given you stress and made you panic. It is best to think affirmative and be optimistic, by saying to yourself that whatever you could do you have done, in fact you have done your best to control a situation and there is nothing more that you could do. Just leave it and say to yourself that everything will be alright.

For instance there is a fire in your workplace, you have called the fire engine and the fire fighters are doing their job, there is nothing more that you can do. Panicking will not improve the situation or light off the fire, the best that you can do is stay calm and think positive. Keep saying to yourself that, nothing bad will happen to you and believe that, everything that happens happens for good, this way you can ease yourself. Positive thoughts go along way, and you can prevent panic attacks.

All the efforts to stop a panic attack, like deep breathing and positive thinking may take you in a trance like state. One has to slowly slip off the trance like state, like slowly open your eyes and get control of the new surrounding and situation and immediately stand up, this can make a huge difference to your life. Also smile at the situation you are in, and also for the successful attempt of overcoming a panic attack. Also smile for the fact that you now know what to do when there is another attack.

One can lessen the frequency and the severity of the attack if you think positive. Also do some lifestyle changes like, take up a sport or go for walks, meditate or do yoga, all this will help you to release stress which gets piled up due to everyday work. Eating healthy food and adequate sleep will also improve your energy level and will give you more strength and stamina to stop one.

Do You Know Where Your Will Power Has Gone?

You know will power - that elusive stuff that other people seem to have, but you don't? Or maybe you had a lot of it on January 1, excited by visions of a new you, but somehow the visions have gotten dimmer as the weeks have gone by.

The parking lot at the fitness center was so crowded on New Year's Day that new members circled endlessly, watching for someone to leave. (The veterans knew, grudgingly, to come early.) Soon there will be ample parking once again for the dedicated few who seem to keep going day after day, year after year, without succumbing to what I call the February Fade.

New Year's Resolutions can take a lot of forms, but all of them start off with a bang and then...

You may even be feeling a little guilt, or even a little disgust, over your difficulty in sticking with your resolutions, and wonder, "What's wrong with me?"

Nothing is wrong with you any more than having a muscle be weak because you haven't used it much, and you don't know quite how to exercise it.

Wouldn't you like to be able to build up your Will Power muscle, just as you build your biceps with curls, or your quadriceps with cycling?

Well, you can. And here's how:

Practice breathing. Practice mindfulbreathing, in this way: close your eyes, breathe in deeply for 4 counts, rest for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts, rest for 4 counts.

That's all? Well, not quite.

Repeat these deep breaths, focusing on your breathing to the exclusion of everything else. Not quite able to exclude everything else? Join the crowd. You will have intrusive thoughts about what's going to happen today, or what happened earlier, or what happened in the third grade that today reminds you of... mind travel can go on and on. That's okay. Just keep breathing and focusing on your breathing.

Keep bringing your attention back to your breathing, because what you are doing is training your prefrontal cortex, the site of conscious thought and control (aka Will Power), to become stronger in over-riding the lower brain areas, those areas where your impulse to take the easy way out - slump down in front of the TV instead of exercising, eat the entire bag of chocolate chip cookies and skip the vegetables - is dominant.

The more you do this breathing and focusing exercise, the more you develop that control. If you were to do this simple exercise for five minutes per day, at the end of five months a brain scan would show significant changes in the area of your brain from which self control originates.

Isn't that worth the investment of five minutes per day? And hey, you don't have to stop at five minutes. Try it for 10, 15...
I don't think anyone has established an overdose level for mindful breathing.

13 Ways to Reduce or Resolve Conflict in 2013

Let's make this the year we challenge each other to take a fresh perspective on everything from those little irritants in the grocery checkout line to the big, emotional issues with our family. Here are thirteen ways to reduce and resolve conflict that should help in the coming months:

1. Be the first to reach out. It's time to end that icy standoff and if you reach out to say so, you may be surprised with the response. You don't have to say all is forgiven, but at least not having bad vibes floating around in the universe should give you some peace. Briefly state that you'd like to resolve the tension, acknowledge where you could have handled things better, and then move on.


2. Be mindful of what you say (and how you say it). Don't lose your ability to call it like it is; instead choose your words carefully. "I'm concerned you're not seeing the risk" is better than blurting out, "What an idiotic move!"


3. Ask for what you need. Rather than stewing about the fact that your partner isn't reading your mind, tell her what you need. Sift through your list beforehand so you're not delivering an overabundance of demands. Decide what's most important and have a meaningful discussion about one or two items.


4. Say you're sorry. Simply put, get rid of the "yeah, but you... "-type responses and admit your shortcomings faster, quicker, and better. If you need the other person to apologize for a specific action, ask for that-but only after you've delivered a sincere mea culpa.


5. Say no. This may seem a little out of place here, but simply saying no upfront to certain requests will keep you out of the doghouse later. If you don't intend to meet the deadline, provide the funding, or meet at six o'clock, don't agree to it!


6. Find a place for your anger. I sometimes ask clients if there's enough hurt, harm, or public embarrassment that could be bestowed on the other person to make their own anger or hurt disappear. There isn't. So, try to find a place for it and then, as much as possible, leave it there. I often visualize packing up the "stuff" from others in a cart (okay, it's a little red wagon) that I then pull to an imaginary sidewalk that doesn't belong to anyone. I leave the wagon there with the notion that it no longer belongs to me and that it's not important to me for the other person to own it. It is what it is and it's no longer something I'm dragging around.


7. Let go of needing to know why. Of course you should get in the habit of asking good, open-ended questions or inviting the other person to help you understand their perspective, but once they've tried and you still don't get it, it's okay to stop. If you never know why, then what will you do? Don't let "why" stands in the way of you moving on.


8. Focus on what's good; build from there. Is there anything about your relationship with the other person that works? Find the common ground and work to make the most of it.


9. Say yes. Everything doesn't need to be an argument! Did you do it? Yes. Are you willing to listen to someone else's idea? Yes. Can you try it his way without sabotaging? Yes.


10. Stop talking about it. Conflicts are what we engage in, they are not what define us. Refrain from giving the problem so much energy. Plus, it may come as a surprise that people really are tired of hearing about it. Venting is great but there's a fine line between getting it all out and becoming obsessed.


11. Consider the other person's point of view (whether you believe it to be true or not). It's not that difficult in a misunderstanding to see how the other person could think you were up to no good. Their thoughts have a lot to do with the amount of and the manner in which information is communicated so it's worth paying attention to.


12. Smile. If you're only going to change one thing about the way you interact with people, this would be it. Greet others with open body language, a smile, and a friendly hello and you can head-off all sorts of trouble.


13. Don't start it in the first place. Oftentimes we are the ones who cause our own issues (though we like to blame others first). Is it really that big of a deal that Sue always uses your stapler or that your kids load the dishwasher from left to the right when everyone knows it should be loaded the other way? Maybe it is; and you should ask for what you want. But, if those little irritants continue, make sure you keep them in the little irritant category and avoid making them into full-blown conflicts.

Common Feelings From Trauma That Fuel PTSD Symptoms

When a traumatic event occurs, it shakes us to the core, often creating unanswered questions. In a futile attempt to gain answers to these questions, unique feelings arise as a means of making sense of the senseless event that occurred, leaving a mixed bag of feelings in its wake.

Simple truth, human beings want answers, crave control and aren't comfortable with the unknown. At its very root, traumas are events that are ultimately out of our control and cause us to feel powerless. This powerlessness can be overwhelming, so as a way to gain a false sense of control, it's in our very nature to create stories about the traumatic event and the pieces that don't make sense. We have a tendency to fill in the gaps of the traumatic experience that went against our moral code and way of being in the world. These usually inaccurate, fabricated answers to the gaps create intense feelings all in an attempt to answer the philosophical question of "why did this terrible event happen?" The seemingly benign question of why has the strength and tenacity to keep the symptoms of PTSD alive and well.

When we ask why to a phenomenon that we will never be able to truly have the answers for, we make up our own stories. These stories catalyze unhealthy beliefs and manufactured emotions that can override the natural feelings, making the healing process from the traumatic experience that much harder. Traumas can create two distinct emotional categories: natural and manufactured. Natural feelings are the emotions that most individuals would feel in that same situation. Whereas manufactured feelings are those that we create to help us make sense of the traumatic event even though they don't belong. Common natural feelings could be fear and sadness while common manufactured ones could be blame, shame and guilt.

Let's take a closer look. While deployed to Afghanistan, an individual, let's call him Charlie, was ordered by his Platoon Sergeant to drive the third truck whereas he usually was in the first vehicle. He questioned this decision as much as he could, creating a case that he knew the route, knew the potential dangers and hotspots. His command's decision remained. While on convoy, right before his eyes as if in slow motion, the first truck hit an IED. The explosion shook the entire convoy, however the only injuries were to those in the first truck, killing two and injuring three. One of the KIA was the driver who happened to be an expectant father, leaving theatre in three weeks to go home to see his wife and be there for the delivery, as well as Charlie's best friend.

Using this example, the natural feelings associated with this traumatic event could be sadness, fear and anger. This is where it then begins to get tricky. If asked what would the natural emotions be, most people would quickly answer saying guilt and blame as well as sadness and anger. Guilt and blame would be manufactured emotions in this case. It would be natural for Charlie to feel sorrow, grief, sadness, fear and anger over the loss of his friend. However, the guilt and blame that could easily be associated would be manufactured because Charlie did nothing wrong. The death of his friend was not his fault; there was no ill intent or malice. The only time guilt, blame or shame are natural is if the individual did something wrong and holds some responsibility. For example, if someone was at your house for a dinner party and stole your grandmother's heirloom necklace, guilt, shame or blame would be natural.

As Charlie is left reeling with the natural emotions of his loss, dependent upon how he processes them and how he handles the traumatic experience is paramount in stopping him from creating beliefs and man-made feelings. At this time, if he allows himself to ask why or any derivative of this question, he is walking a slippery slope towards making up stories and manufacturing feelings that could cause and/or increase the symptoms of PTSD.

Assuming Charlie is emotionally intelligent, gets into treatment quickly, is resilient, does not have complex trauma and has a strong support system, there is a good chance he will process the natural feelings organically while going through the cycle of grief and be able to see the experience as horrific but not take ownership of it.

Unfortunately, creating manufactured emotions happens all too easy. If Charlie is unable to work through the natural feelings and ends us asking himself, "why did this happen?" and starts replaying the experience over and over again in his head to make sense of it, there is a high likelihood that manufactured emotions will evolve.

How this might look in real life is that Charlie then spends each night the rest of his deployment sitting in his CHU thinking of his friend and what went wrong. The deep sorrow and grief then turn to guilt and shame as he begins to tell himself, "It should have been me." "It would have been better if it were me, I don't have kids." "I robbed his family." "I am failure." "I should have fought my NCO harder on driving the first truck." "If I was in the first truck I would have spotted the IED." And the list of toxic beliefs goes on, all as a way of trying to make sense of the traumatic event. Logically, not being in Charlie's situation, we can all see that none of his thoughts are accurate.

Manufactured emotions can also take the form of anger and fear. Charlie's fear and anger in the beginning made sense and were natural, but over time they evolved into manufactured feelings. How these evolve using the same example is that Charlie can then begin to feel powerless and fearful due to the constant threats while downrange and to make sense of this, he then projects hatred, anger and fear onto the world and specific populations at large. These may sound something like: "Muslims cannot be trusted." "The world is unsafe." "If I don't have my gun on me, I am in danger." "If I am hypervigilant, then I will be prepared and can stay safe." These even go on and remain while the solider is stateside, which is large in part as to what keeps the manufactured feelings alive.

Entertaining manufactured emotions is dangerous because they end up developing unhealthy beliefs about our self, the world and others. These maladaptive beliefs are called stuck points and they keep us stuck in our unhealthy thinking and being in the world, often magnifying the PTSD symptoms by acting like kerosene to a fire. Stuck points can be all consuming.

Stuck points are created by the manufactured emotions that arose from the traumatic experience and the stories created to make sense of it. Often when a trauma happens it goes against our way of being in the world. Most of us have been raised to believe that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people, bad things don't really happen at all or they wouldn't happen to me. So if a trauma occurs, it can challenge our moral and philosophical compass, often causing us to either change our beliefs about our self, the world or both. "If something bad happened, it must be because I am bad and something is wrong with me," or "The world is now bad and can't be trusted like I thought it could."

In other words, based on the manufactured feelings these little pesky beliefs called stuck points are nurtured. Everything that Charlie was telling himself were stuck points. From his story, there are 10 stuck points that can be identified above. The good news is that there is evidence-based treatment that can help to unravel the stuck points, extinguish the manufactured emotions and process the natural feelings. It is called Cognitive Processing Therapy, a treatment specific towards PTSD that directly challenges the stuck points and manufactured emotions. If interested, look for a clinician certified in this treatment modality, it can truly help.

Even though this was only one example to illustrate how manufactured emotions are catalyzed, the same concept applies to any traumatic event. There are many common feelings associated with trauma and it's important to be able to identify the natural from the manufactured. Doing this can change the course of PTSD and its symptoms.

Is Fear A Blessing?

God has blessed us all with five senses i.e. sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. But there is another sense, which we normally call the sixth sense. And that is the prediction or guess of something that we cannot feel with the physical senses. It is a gift from God as we would have been paralyzed if we did not have this sense. Sometimes we attribute the sixth sense with some special people. But to me, God has gifted everybody with this sense. The only difference is how different people use this gift.

And it would have been much dangerous to survive without this ability. It is all living bodies' instinct (except plants) to get alert against a potential danger. It is a response to a possible future event that we are less appreciative about. Fear protects us from the heavy losses.

All our senses are gifts from God and so, for our benefit. But many of us fail to understand ourselves and all these gifts. This gives a way to un-fulfillment and anxiety. If we had a negative experience in the past, we relate the same hypothesis for the future results of the same actions.

The human fear is somewhat different from that of the other living animals. Such feelings in other animals are called alert and they always try to either fight or escape from the possible threat. Human beings relate their past wrong doings with the future results rather trying to fix them.

But we can conquer our fear by taming it for the good purpose. Minor troubles in our lives; prepare us for the upcoming hard targets to hit as an untried and untested one would not be able to compete in the bigger challenges that lie ahead in life to face.

We can translate our fear into our alert, alert into challenge, challenge into opportunity and opportunity into our benefit; only if we choose a positive attitude towards our daily lives. But, whole the formula would reverse back if we had a negative approach i.e. out benefits would convert back to our fears.

If we tame our fear into pain, we can use it for our success in life. Some people are pain driven, some pleasure driven. They both are better than the people than any other drive. It means pain or fear. Once Mahatma Gandhi said, "If we keep bearing and collecting pain, one day we could use it for a greater success"

How Can I Care for Myself When I'm Caring for Others?

Caring for others, whether it be a child or children, elderly parents, an ailing friend or all of the above can be exhausting. Physical energy is required to get through the day but it is often the emotional stress that takes its toll. So often the caregiver gets lost in the shuffle and forgets what flight attendants have told us for years:

"Put your oxygen mask on first before assisting your child."

Having experienced the physical and emotional exhaustion of caring for elderly parents, I appreciate the struggle that comes with wanting to do everything possible for them and knowing that you are not taking care of your own health and wellbeing.

The question to ask yourself each day is: "What can I do for myself that will help keep me balanced, rejuvenated and healthy?"

When care giving seems to take up your time and energy 24/7, you must be realistic with what you can do for yourself. It may be the small things that give you the most support. The following are just a few suggestions that may ease the feeling of overwhelm.

1. BREATHE. Square breathing can help relieve the anxiety that is often felt throughout the day: 1) Breathe in to a count of 4. 2) Hold for a count of 4. 3) Breathe out for a count of 4. 4) Hold for a count of 4. Repeat.

2. Stay hydrated. Keep a water bottle with you at all times. Water will keep you electrical, focused and may prevent stress eating. Adding a pinch of Himalayan salt to your water will increase your body's ability to stay hydrated. Get more information at www.mercola.com

3. The Australian Bush Flower Essence, Alpine Mint Bush helps with the mental and emotional exhaustion and the weight of responsibility felt by care givers. It doesn't take away the job. It helps revitalize and renew your energy.

4. The Bach Flower Essence, Rescue Remedy can be added to your water bottle and give you emotional support throughout the day.

5. Create a support system. You need a respite. This could be a friend or family member, a babysitter, a Home Health Aid, a support group, Elder Services, Visiting Nurses, etc.

6. A simple energetic exercise can help you feel more focused and less overwhelmed:

On a piece of paper, draw a large Infinity Symbol (a figure 8 on its side) with your right hand. When the tracing is smooth, repeat the tracing with the pen in your left hand. When that is smooth, repeat the tracing holding the pen in both hands.

7. When the emotions of the situation feel out of control, take a moment to regroup with Frontal/Occipital Holding:

Place one hand on the back of your head and the other hand on your forehead. Breathe slowly and use this time to visualize yourself calm, healthy and balanced. When you feel pulsing under the hand on your forehead or you take a deep, cleansing breath, you are done.

8. Animals are natural stress relievers. Just petting a cat or dog reduces blood pressure, minimizes anxiety and brings us back into the moment. If a pet isn't available, find pet videos on You Tube or Facebook. Animals, especially cute ones, can usually get us to smile and forget for a moment that we are overwhelmed.

There are many ways of putting your oxygen mask on first. Spend some time brainstorming the techniques that work for you. Be realistic, be willing to ask for help and give yourself permission to take care of you!

Your Blinkers Are Showing: 1 Step Closer to Less Stress!

Why do you have answers to everyone else's dilemmas, but when you look in the mirror, you are often at a loss? Welcome to "Blinker Syndrome."

Have you ever noticed that you can see faults in others, answers to their dilemmas, and honestly believe that you know exactly what they should be doing with their lives? Sometimes, you can see all that even while your life is falling apart. Ever wonder why? It is because you have fallen victim to "blinker syndrome."

What exactly is "Blinker Syndrome?"

Picture it: your home town, sometime in the last few days. You were driving down the street when you realized that the car in front of you has its left blinker on. After passing several side streets, you realize that the driver is not going to be turning. He simply does not realize that his blinker is on. You, however, are very aware that his blinker is on. As a matter fact, you begin to focus on the blinker. As you pass several more driveways and cross streets, the blinker begins to irritate you. It irritates you to the point of you feeling the need to say something. Typically, what comes out is an arguably intelligent comment such as, "turn your stupid blinker off, you dork!" You do not merely say the words, though. You actually shout them. This goes on for as long as the person is in front of you.

So, what does this have to do with personal development? Everything!

You see, when a person has her blinker on, everyone around them can see it clearly. The only person who cannot see the blinker is the person driving. In other words, we can see everyone else's blinkers all day long. Not only that, but we often feel compelled to comment on them saying things such as, "what is he thinking?" or "why would she do that, is she crazy?" It leads us to falsely believe that we know what everyone else should be doing, because THEY do not know what they should be doing and, of course, they are always doing the wrong thing!

What is the problem with that?

You spend more time and energy focusing on everything outside of yourself and very little time learning about improving you. If you are looking for answers outside of yourself, do not expect to find many.

What action step can I take to take my energy back?

Without awareness, it is difficult to change anything. Take time to stop on a daily basis and look for your blinkers... it will take moments. Once you have awareness, you have the ability, and often the motivation, to shift quickly. If you honestly cannot see your blinkers, ask someone else. They will always be happy to point them out.

Get Clarity, Get Moving, Get Results.

5 Spiritual Keys to Help You Cope With Disease or Disaster

During moments of strife and 'dis-ease', check your flow and redirect your focus to that which is naturally good. ~ T.F. Hodge

It would be wonderful if life just flowed along like a bubbling brook in summer - all sunshine and warm feelings. But...

You always know there will be a BUT, don't you? Life is like that. Disease, divorce, disaster strikes. All of a sudden that little brook becomes a raging rapid, pushing everything in its path downstream. You feel like you're caught in a whirlpool or a hurricane of negative emotions, physical challenges and mental overload. The problems beat around in your head like tree limbs whipped by the torrent.

Maybe your spouse asked for a divorce. Maybe you've been diagnosed with a debilitating disease. Maybe you have to put your life on hold to be a care-giver. What can you do?

Seek peace.

Still your thoughts of anxiety and fear. Let God's peace wash over you. Imagine it like rain, a warm Florida rain, clean and crisp. Subtle at first, then wetter, steadier, more refreshing.

Each time you start to feel anxious or upset, step into the rain. You know how good it feels when you're working outside in the garden - and a summer shower starts. Cool. Refreshing. A blessing, as it nourishes and refreshes everything! Peace is like that.

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) You are responsible to keep your heart free from turmoil. Hanging on to your peace is something you can do, something you can control, even when the rest of the situation is out of your control.

Stay calm.

Have you noticed over the years that people feed off other people's emotions? If your spouse gets upset or depressed, pretty soon, you are too. Or it might be a co-worker, friend or family member. Negative emotions create a domino effect. So do positive emotions.

If you keep yourself calm and reassuring, those around you will eventually pick up on that. You stay calm the same way you keep your peace - by talking to yourself. "I will not be troubled. Jesus gave me His peace. I am redeemed from the curse of anxiety and fear. I receive Jesus' peace. I am calm."

It's not unusual to sedate a patient because of disorientation and pain. The physician wants to keep the patient calm. Calmness helps healing and comfort. Breathing and heart rates normalize, muscles relax. Thoughts slow, allowing you to process information more clearly.

If you are a patient or a care-giver, let the medical profession do what they do best - knowing that God has ordained health care professions for that purpose. Pray for them to be guided in wisdom and compassion and to be strengthened to do what most of us would consider a very difficult job.

Fear Not.

Fear is always the devil's tool. It is sneaky, trying to insert itself into your thoughts, flitting through your mind as "what if's". Fear says 'you can't and 'you'll never'. It tries to tell you the current situation is permanent and will never get any better. Fear is a lie.

God told us, "I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) If your loved one is afraid of disease, you can know - for him or her - that God's children are redeemed from the curse (Gal. 3:13). Hang onto His promises!

If the opportunity presents itself (and God will probably make that happen) you can explain how you stay calm and peaceful. Maybe you can even help your loved ones replace fear with faith. Is he afraid of disease? Does she fear death? Heaven is a wonderful place - and no one who gets there ever wants to come back here.

Fear is debilitating. It is actually faith in the disease or disaster's ability to harm or inflict pain. When Jesus faced the most horrendous death in history, taking on all of our diseases and sins, He told the Disciples, "Rejoice, I go unto My Father." Knowing the ultimate outcome helps defeat fear.

Be grateful.

It is always a thrill to look back on situations and see how God positioned you for something coming that you couldn't foresee. As stressful as the situation is right now, know that you are where you need to be. God has anointed, ordained and strengthened you to deal with this time. When I was caring for my mother, the verses I clung to were "Your grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:19), I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).

If this is a time of care-giving or other emotionally draining situation, find the little things that bless you. Don't let them slip by your consciousness unnoticed. Remember the adage, 'take time to smell the roses'.

Enjoy a few moments of sunshine. Listen to peaceful music. Make yourself a cup of hot tea. Keep a good book handy and read a few pages while your loved one naps. Take a nap yourself! Do whatever you need to do to replenish your spirit and soul. God will give you those opportunities. Watch for them and be thankful.

Even better, keep a Blessings Journal. Make yourself write at least three things every day that were positive and uplifting. When you feel down, re-read your entries.

Rejoice!

Combat negatives with positives. Life is just that, LIFE. As long as the patient has consciousness, do your best to share joy and laughter. The worst thing for patients with a serious illness or people hurt by life's disasters is for everyone to tip-toe around, somber and depressed.

Read jokes. Watch a comedy on TV. Find something to laugh about. The Bible tells us that "a merry heart doeth good, like medicine". Buy a joke book. Tell funny stories - anything to take your mind (and theirs) off the battle.

No matter what happens in your life (or theirs), you are strong enough to deal with it. No matter what you face, it is not the end. Divorce closes one chapter... and opens another. Disaster - a car wreck, house fire, whatever it might be - can end with a positive result if you keep yourself positive. Even death is 'swallowed up in victory' (I Cor. 15:54) when heaven becomes home.

Every 'end' is a beginning, a new phase of LIFE, an opportunity to strengthen your faith and move forward. With these five keys, I know you can do it. Soon you'll be back by that bubbling brook, rejoicing in the warmth of your blessings, peaceful and unafraid.

Signs You Are Suffering From FDD and What To Do About It

FDD isn't as rare a disease as you might think. I suspect millions suffer from this disease weekly, maybe even daily. I discovered I was suffering from this just this morning. I started not feeling great yesterday. Nothing I could really put my finger on specifically. But I was lacking energy, feeling kind of blah. I took some extra vitamin C, had a good night sleep. I woke up this morning kind of the same. Then I realized I was suffering from FDD, Fun Deficit Disorder. This hasn't been a widely diagnosed problem, but it is a problem, and vitamin C won't cure it. Only a dose of fun can cure this disease!

Signs you have FDD:

1. Your stress level is at a maximum level. You feel as if you will pop at any second. There is little to no enjoyment in your work, your days, your relationships. Life seems to be one endless to-do list.

2. You really can't remember the last time you had fun. You're working so hard at living life, paying bills and checking the responsibility boxes, you forgot you were suppose to enjoy the journey. You may not even be able to say what you would consider to be fun.

3. You don't have anything to look forward to. Nothing that gets you out of bed in the morning. You're not able to look into the future with anticipation.

Ways to treat FDD:

1. Seek out fun people. Who are the people in your life that make you laugh? You enjoy being around them because they are fun. Make time on your calendar to communicate with them in some way. There are people in my life from previous jobs around the country that I still stay in contact with via e-mail. They make me laugh. E-mailing them takes minutes. Reading their responses takes minutes. The good feelings from the communication lasts the rest of the day.

2. Get something fun on the calendar. It doesn't have to be big, just something that you look forward to. You have to put it on the calendar though. Don't just think, "Oh, maybe I'll do that." Be intentional! I estimate that fun is the one item that falls to the bottom of most people's list because it isn't deemed "necessary."

3. Make sure you are having fun with the people you are the closest to. This helps build relationships and can break the strain of living life. I've been married almost 22 years with two kids. I can honestly say that my husband is still my favorite person to have fun with. He makes me laugh. This didn't just happen. We are intentional about adding fun into our otherwise routine lives.

Statistics show that laughing is good for your health. It's a great stress reliever. I believe the same health benefits can be achieved from having fun too. Life is too short not to have fun.