Stress and Breast Cancer

What can you do about Stress?

Act on health problems immediately, take time to enjoy relationships you have with friends and family, remain true to your ethics and values. Know what you do and do what your know. Be prepared. Allow enough time to accomplish your schedule.

just like you counteract debts with payments, balance out you stress with relaxation.
keep things in perspective ( balance your career, family, finances, spiritual/ethical issues, social life, mental life, and physical life.)
take care of your health and fitness
Fitness is a potent energizer and stress reducer. It reverses the stress-induced chemical reactions that have built up in your body.
But maintaining a regular fitness program requires commitment and discipline. Choose an activity that you can enjoy. It doesn't matter if you jog, walk, bike, lift weights, play sports, swim, do Yoga, Tai-Chi, water aerobics. Fit this activity into your weekly schedule.
prioritize, and focus on the important things (feeling in control is highly associated with mental health, according to Marsha Wineburgh of the National Academies of Practice, Social Work division in Washington DC. Instead of wasting energy on things that can't be changed, focus on those areas on which you can have an effect.
control the controllable, let go of the rest. Do not feel that you need to do everything perfect. Make a list of the things you feel you need to do. Catagorize these things under two headings: those you want to do a great job at, and those that you can just do a mediocre job at. Remember, you cannot put everything on the "great" side... for you are only human.
think positively (negativity can be draining. Is the glass half empty or half full?
eat nutritiously
get sleep. Your body repairs itself only while you are asleep.
schedule time for yourself. Pursue hobbies and interests that nourish the spirit daily. Even 15 minutes a day is good.
seek help when stress gets too great

From Stress will you cope...or crack? by Sandra Lotz Fisher, May issue of Sell!ng

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