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It has been called the disease of the 20^th century.  It is believed to cause more ailments than anything else known to modern medicine.  And whether we realize it or not, for most of us, it has become a habit we just cannot seem to kick.  We all know the health implications of stress that could trigger major disease like cancer, hypertension and coronary disease.  Deaths from illnesses linked to stress have grown to an alarming rate.  So why is it so hard for us to break the stress habit and just learn to relax?

The answer may lie in that we do not treat our stress responses the same way we treat any other habit.  We acquire and get used to it.  As a result, stress has become something we accept.  We learn to live with it.  What is a habit?  A habit is defined as behavior patterns that become regular or spontaneous due to regular repetition.

Few of us were born worriers and even fewer of us are naturally prone to anxiety or tension until we begin to develop the habit of responding that way. For most of us, this happens early in life and therefore, changing our ingrained behavior is not easy and takes time. Like any behavior pattern that requires changing, our stress response patterns can be easily modified so that stress no longer makes us physically or emotionally sick, but instead makes us feel challenged and invigorated.

So how do we go about breaking this habit so that the quality of our lives is better?  First, by learning what stress is and what is does to us. Second, by learning to recognize stress symptoms and linking those symptoms with daily events in our lives.  Third, by making gradual changes in our behavior patterns and attitudes.  Finally, by learning quick and simple stress management relaxation techniques and exercises that can be done anytime with little effort.

Over this month, take inventory and NOTICE how different events and stimulus are affecting you emotionally, physically, and mentally.  Notice if you love to run off the excitement of deadlines and having numerous activities going on at once.  Notice also how this affects your body.  Are you sleeping and by that I mean resting, waking up feeling rejuvenated.  Are you irritable, lashing out at family, workers, vendors etc?  This is just one example, have fun with this, perhaps the stress in your life has become a habit.  Now the choice is yours to decide if it serves you in the healthiest of ways!