Driving to work or anywhere for that matter during peak periods can be a very stress experience.  We seem to get all the red lights or they aren’t working, banked up traffic and construction zones.  There is also the noise and pollution associated with driving in the city.  The kids can get bored and restless and you arrive at your destination stressed.

I don’t know about you, but for me I really feel anxious especially when others are cutting in to my lane or wont give way when they are supposed to. If you feel stressed then it can escalate into road rage by you or others around you.  Just let go of the anger and stress.  Dont let other drivers or passengers influence you or give them the satisfaction that they may have upset you.

Stay calm and try to empathize with the bad driver.  This may sound silly but it works for me so why not try it yourself.  You dont know why they are acting this way this time.  They may have an emergency and are frustrated too by delays.  The kids on the other hand may be an ongoing problem you may have to work on.

Turn on on some music, something you really like to listen to as music is a great soother,and use the delay to relax. I love to think of myself somewhere warm, sitting by the ocean, drinking a marguerita. This can also be the time you can do some muscle relaxation exercises as well.

Make sure you allow enough time to get to your destination, know how to get there before you leave hom, take something for rthe kids to do in the care and if you get too stressed pull over and take a break.

Happy safe driving and dont stress out!

Like most anxieties we often avoid the problem rather than face it and this is the case with fear of failure.  It is easier not to take the risk so we go in avoidance mode.  We must understand what has made us fear failing in the first place.  Has outside influences had a part in our feelings?

An example of this might be that we are told in our youth that we can never do anything right and so be believe it.   Is this outside assessment an accurate one or just something we have accepted as truth?  Fear can immobilize us and we get so wrapped up in that fear that we really will fail or not try at all.

Think of ways to overcome this fear of failure.  What would be the outcome of taking the risk?  What is the worst case scenario?  How long would it take you to recover from the failure if you did take it?  Looking at these things will help you decide to face the fear and act or not.

When you plan things, especially in smaller steps, then it is easier to take a risk.  Have a back up plan also, and this especially will give you the confidence to act and face the fear.  Once you do it, it will become easier the next time eg joining a club, making a speech or having a first date.

The greatest obstacles to your success is avoidance and procrastination.  We tell ourselves we will do it tomorrow or not at all.  If we don’t take risks and face our fears then we will be in the same situation we are in today, tomorrow, next week and next year.

Fear can immobilize us but we can face our fears and our lives will be change hopefully for the better.  We don’t need to worry about the fear of failure, just take the chance.

I suffer from anxiety attacks!  I don’t want to make that sound like a final statement because most of the time I don’t suffer from anxiety attacks and panic.  It is only when I have let myself get too stressed that I may have them now.

Drinking too much coffee, not getting enough sleep or eating properly or a combination of these can also contribute to my having an anxiety attack. These are my triggers and I have learned to recognize what they are and also how to eliminate or reduce the affects they have on my mental health.

When I am really stressed my anxiety will lead me to a panic attack and I will explain to you briefly how that feels to me.   I first feel tingling in my fingers and scalp, I usually am surprised as  I don’t usually see it coming.  Sometimes I also feel nausea and always my throat is dry and my stomach is upset for a long while, even days.  If I don’t do anything about it then it will develop into a full blown panic attack where I feel waves of fear wash over me.

It is not a good experience and note though that I didn’t say it was a terrible experience as I now have learned to stop it in it’s tracks.  Also I feel that by saying to myself something is terrible then I am reinforcing that thought.

I have been told that anxiety attacks can be hereditary and was asked about family members but all I can find is that my Aunties were described as ’sensitive’ or ‘highly strung’ so maybe that is where it came from. I suppose it doesn’t really matter where it came from but how I react to it now.

To me, it doesn’t really help to know that because of  my genes I am more predisposed to anxiety attacks, as the bottom line is really that if  I get them, I deal with them.

I have found that if I can stop myself from hyperventilating when I get nervous or stressed then I can prevent myself from panicking.  This is where Binaural Beat music has been a lifesaver for me.  I am lucky that I now have control over panic and it doesn’t rule my life anymore but I do make sure that my stress levels are kept to a minimum if possible.

I don’t know that I would say that I am cured but I sure feel like I have control over my life now. Taking back the power of your emotions is such an empowering feeling.  Try relaxation music on your iPod too and see the difference in your stress levels immediately.

Shyness can often stop us from communicating the way we would like to.   If you suffer from social phobia this can be a problem in your life.  There are a few things you can do though to improve your conversational skills.

Here are five tips to help you start:

1.  Listen
Listening to what the other person is saying is important and often difficult when nervous as we are concentrating on what we are going to say next, but by listening, this will help you, as you can ask questions and this will add to the conversation without you having to worry.

2.  Smile and make eye contact
This may sound a bit simple but when you make eye contact you are saying to the person that they are important, and smiling is in a way saying I like and approve of what you are saying.

3.  Lighten up
Talking to people can be pleasurable and not so stressful if you change your thinking.   Have a positive attitude that you will have a good experience and that it is a good way to meet people and make friends even why you are shy.  It is not an activity to worry about and if things get tense just talk about something you know well like your job, sport or a new program on TV.

4.  Know your audience
If you are going to a specific group like a book club or sporting group then find out what the group has been doing lately.  The book club may be in the process of reading a particular book and you can research about the book on Google.  The sporting group will probably be doing activities that you like or you wouldn’t be joining it so just talk about your experiences.

5.  Join a speech club
OK, I know that can be daunting to some people  especially if you are shy  or have social phobia so I have left this tip to the end.  Clubs such as Toastmasters can help you learn to speak in public and this not only will help you in business but improve your confidence in speaking with people one on one as well.

I hope these few tips help you as they have helped me and remember if you only try one tip then make it No 1 as this is the most important.  People like other people who listen to them.

If social phobia is a problem in your life then find relief with PANIC AWAY.

Self hypnosis

Using auto suggestions is a good start.  Use positive suggestions that are easy to remember. Visualize yourself actually doing or succeeding at this suggestion you are giving yourself.  Don’t be negative and keep them short and to the point as this helps to reinforce them in your mind.

When you are going to try a self hypnosis technique find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted or distracted by outside noises such as phones. You can sit or lie down but my preference is probably a combination of these, in a recliner chair.  Make sure you are warm enough as well.

Method:
Close your eyes and visualize your favorite place.
Slowly breathe in and out while telling yourself you are exhalling the anxiety or stress you feel.
Keep breathing slowly in and out while saying the word ‘relax’.
Imagine yourself in your ‘happy place’ walking, or swimming or watching the tide go in and out and as you do this become more relaxed with every step, stroke or lap.
Repeat your positive affirmation now.
Take a few more steps, strokes or laps then repeat it once more.
Come back to where you were to start with in your ‘happy place’ and just rest there feeling the relaxation in your body.
Open your eyes and come back to your normal state.

This is a simple technique but effective so give it a try and attain the goals you always wanted but seemed beyond reach as well as banishing the stress you once felt.  Try adding some relaxation music for a different effect.

We all need to eat but the problem starts when you comfort eat when you are anxious.  Stress and anxiety can be a bad aspect of your life if you react to it by overeating.  This can lead to weight gain and health problems as well.  I was one who was a comfort eater and when things went wrong for me I would take pleasure in my food.

Finding out what your stressors are is very important so you are aware of why you are overeating.  Sometimes we can’t change the stressors eg a bereavement, but we can control how we react to it.  We often hope that the comfort we get will make the underlying problem go away but unfortunately it just makes it worse or creates other problems.

What are comfort foods?  Well high fat foods like french fries, sugary foods like cakes and carbohydrates like bread are comfort foods.  Maybe that is why hamburgers are such a popular choice as they are a combination of comforts foods.

Firstly we need to recognize we have a problem.  Trying to work through these will help overcome overeating and also by finding alternatives to eating such as exercise (choice an exercise you really like to do) or distraction techniques may help us in the long run.

Don’t let stress and anxiety make you fat and unhealthy, both emotionally and physically.  If you find you can’t help yourself then seek help from professional counselors.  Also try relaxation and visualization techniques and remember that overcoming emotional eating is really taking control of your emotional well being and not just your weight.

Practice good eating habits and get regular exercise, find new ways of problem solving along with a positive attitude will all help you to free yourself of your overeating and anxiety for good.

Good foods you should be eating are fruits such as bananas, oily fish like salmon and tuna and wholegrain breads and flour, vegetables such as carrots and broccoli.  Fresh fruits and juices will give you an energy boost when you most need it and improve your mood.  Drinking enough water and cutting down on salt is also very important.

Here is a recipe for a cocktail ideal for that hot summer afternoon:

Healthy fruit cocktail

1/4 cup orange juice (unsweetened)
1/4 cup pineapple juice (unsweetened)
5 carrots, cut into quarters length ways
1 teasp honey (optional)
ice cubes

Juice the carrots and mix in with the orange and pineapple juice, add the honey if you like, then the ice cubes and blend together.  Pour into 2 large glasses.  I leave out the honey unless I have a sore throat, and you can always add it later for more sweetness.

Eating gives you more energy and definitely helps with your mood and with the right choices you can also eat healthily and enjoy the experience which is important.  Eat well and this will help your mental health as well as your physical health.  For other recipes why not check out the book pictured above by clicking on the link here –> The Big Book of Juices and Smoothies, a great book to give you ideas for healthy drinks.

We all need to eat, but the problem starts when you eat for comfort when you are anxious or stressed.  Stress and anxiety can be a bad aspect of your life if you react to it by overeating.  This can lead to weight gain and health problems as well. I was one who was a comfort eater and when things went wrong for me I would take pleasure in my food.

Finding out what your stressors are is very important so you are aware of why you are overeating.  Sometimes we can’t change the stressors eg a bereavement but we can control how we react to it.  We often hope that the comfort we get will make the underlying problem go away but unfortunately it just makes it worse or creates other problems.

What are comfort foods?  Well high fat foods like french fries, sugary foods like cakes and carbohydrates like bread are comfort foods.  Maybe that is why hamburgers are such a popular choice as they are a combination of comforts foods.

Firstly we need to recognize we have a problem.  Trying to work through these will help overcome overeating and also by finding alternatives to eating such as exercise (choice an exercise you really like to do) or distraction techniques may help us in the long run.

Don’t let stress and anxiety make you fat and unhealthy, both emotionally and physically.  If you find you can’t help yourself then seek help from professional counselors.  Also try relaxation and visualization techniques and remember that overcoming emotional eating is really taking control of your emotional well being and not just your weight.

Practice good eating habits and get regular exercise, find new ways of problem solving along with a positive attitude will all help you to free yourself of your overeating for good.

As you get older you no longer get the same amount of oxygen to your lungs as you used to when you were younger.  If you shallow breathe like I do then you will build up more carbon dioxide in your lungs.

When you are anxious you also rapid breathe which not only can lead to overall tiredness but is not good for your heart.  It only takes about 5 minutes a day to freshen that stale air that is accumulating and this you can do anytime of the day but at night time these exercises will also relax your for a better sleep.

Here are 3 exercises you can try:

1.  Place your hands on your stomach just below your rib case and slowly breath in and feel your ribs expanding.  slowly breathe out all the way as much as you can.

2. Humming exercises (now don’t laugh) are also helpful and this is where you hum on exhaling.  Concentrate on your breathing and hum each time you exhale.  This help you relax in all part of your body.

3.  Chinese breathing is something new that I have been trying.  Sit down in a comfortable chair, preferably one that doesn’t have arms and take three short breaths through the nose without exhaling between them.

With this technique on the first breath you also have to lift your arms out in front of you , on the second you open up your arms to the side at shoulder level and on the third breathe you lift them over your head.  You then exhale and bring your arms down to your side.

Maybe do it one more time but don’t overdo it as it can make you lightheaded and don’t do this exercise when standing.

I would like you now to watch this video by Wilddivine.com as its a fairly new way to treat anxiety and stress and one I am looking at investigating more.  Click on the link below to watch it.

Many of us worry about our ability meet a loan or some other debt repayment and this causes debt stress.   It has become so easy for us to pay for what we want with credit cards whereas in the past we may have saved for it.

Negative stress from money worries is blamed for all sorts of physical ailments such as hypertension, insomnia, obesity and hives to mention just a few.

Did you know that you are more likely to have health problems than those people who are debt free?  Why is that do you think?  Well, worrying about money causes anxiety, sleeping problems, anger and other behavioral problems and affects our overall physical health.

There are some ways you can help yourself with debt stress and these are:

Talk about it
That sounds simple doesn’t it but many of us don’t seek help.  Unresolved frustration leads to negative stress.  Fix the frustration and you fix the stress.  See a financial adviser or bank and for our health you should consult a doctor.

Understand why
Look into why this has come about and accept what you can’t change now and change what you can.

Exercise
Meditation and exercise can reduce stress and tension.

Look at how you react to stress
What can you do to change this?

These are just 4 ways you can help your current situation but long term planning will help you avoid the problems in the future.  Don’t forget to stay positive and practical and don’t less debt stress get to you.