We can't avoid stress However we conduct our lives we're going to run into stress on a daily basis. And dealing with stress actually causes chemical changes in our brains which can of course affect our health. But there's much more to the story than that.

Our stressful moments don't always last very long. This can be the frustration of simple things like getting in line at the grocery store only to find that you have chosen the slowest line. Everyone has this feeling at one time or another. What is important is how we deal with it. Most times, in this situation people will stare off at the magazine rack and check out the latest celebrity gossip. And some people let the anger build inside them. You can almost see the tension building with every second they have to wait in that line.

Obviously we want to be like the prior, and take this moment as an opportunity to catch up on our gossip. The first may read something interesting on the cover of a magazine and the second may escape from the chaos of the day with her daydream. But the person that is literally stressing out over the wait is doing more harm to himself than he realizes.

Stress can affect us on many levels. This person is not likely to have a smile on his face as he heads out of the store. It is probably going to take time for him to get in a better mood. In most cases, people like this deal with stress the same way, over and over - meaning, they have poor coping skills.

In time this person is likely to experience any or all of the following problems:

Difficulty sleeping

High blood pressure

Lack of energy

Headaches

Feelings of depression

Tension & anxiety that won't let up

Back or neck pain

Change in weight

And more

As you can see, stress can build and lead to some bad stuff. But we need to acknowledge also that some people simply have a lot of stress in their lives. I'm sure we all know those that have had more hardships, trials, and tribulations than the average person. It is also important to remember that some things that are viewed as good, such as having children or buying a home and moving, are also very stressful.

The problems mentioned above can of course lead to lots of health issues, including heart disease, emotional disorders, ulcers, lowered immunity system responses, and many others. We can't delete stress from our life, but we can handle it better. We can work on using mature coping mechanisms when we are feeling stressed, but even more than that we can be more proactive.

To stay healthy we can eat better, drink lots of water, get plenty of sleep, and exercise. Taking care of ourselves is a great start to being better able to handle any situation. Be kind to yourself. Take time to smell the roses, chill out, and remember your hobbies. Every day you should budget at least twenty minutes that are just for you, that is your time to do what you need. Try not to let the little things get you down.