Checklist for Handling Overstress

	Reduce the pace of change in your life.
	Reduce social obligations.
	Reduce work or school obligations.
	Postpone changes in your living situation.
	Say "No" more often.
	Eliminate possible food or environmental allergens.
	Reduce environmental toxins.

Get Off The "Roller Coaster"

	Diet: Take a multivitamin, mineral, trace element preparation; stabilize your blood sugar; eat more vegetables.
	Exercise: Twenty minutes to two hours, three times a week.
	Stop Your Pick-Me-Up's (consult your physician).
	Stop Your Put-Me-Down's (consult your physician).

Do A "Rest For Your Mind" Activity

	Exercise
	Recreational reading, arts, crafts, music
	Dance
	Meditation
	Yoga
	Biofeedback
	Self-Hypnosis
	Religious counseling

Help Your Body Clock Re-Set Itself

	Set regular sleep times.
	Avoid time zone shifts or rapid changes in your work shift.
	Use daylight spectrum fluorescent lights to set your body clock's "awake time."

Visit A Physician

Check for hidden illness

Visit A Counselor

Obtain help with self relaxation and general psychological counseling.

Three Rules To Permanently Conquer Overstress

Rule One: Learn To Read Your Body Signs

	Learn to check your body frequently for signs of overstress. Watch for the telltale disturbances in your sleep pattern, as this is usually the earliest sign of overstress.
	You must learn to read your body signs in much the same way as a diabetic learns the early warning signs of abnormal blood sugar. In order to cope successfully with diabetes, a diabetic has to learn to read his body's signals. If he has a constant thirst, fatigue and excessive urination, that means the sugar is too high. If he has shakiness, irritability, and perspiration that means the blood sugar is too low. In order to live with diabetes, the diabetic must understand what these signals mean.
	Likewise, if you are a person who is prone to overstress, you must learn to look for its earliest warning signs. As soon as your sleep patterns change, or you experience fatigue, lack of enjoyment of life, anxiety, multiple aches and pains -- that is the time to go through the overstress checklist.

Rule Two: Exchange Your Stresses

	Keep your stress level below your individual overstress point by "exchanging stresses". If a new stress comes into your life, then make room for it by eliminating or postponing another stress. This way, your total stress level remains low.
	The natural tendency is for people to let their stresses pile up rather than exchanging them.
	Overstress gradually occurs. With the development of overstress, the person starts taking off on the wild roller coaster of ill health.
	In order to stay healthy, learn to exchange your stresses.

Rule Three: Use Relaxation Techniques/Therapies

	If you are feeling ill from overstress, remember that the troubled sleep, fatigue, aches, lack of enjoyment of life, and panic attacks are caused by chemical changes in your brain. Effective treatment is available now.
	Many techniques for conquering and managing stress are given on this website. Use them.

Also See: Commonsense Remedies for Stress