What is stress and how does it affect us? Stress is a reaction to a fear that affects both our body and mind. We are constantly dealing with changes in society, workplace, home and so forth. Stress targets our mind and sends the residue to our body, influencing the nervous system to explode. Stress is either positive or negative, since stress can lead us to address problems, or it can lead us to loose control when problems occur. Stress can open our minds to resources, or else stress can close our mind, leading us to reject options, distrust our self and others, cause depression and even enforce our anger. When stress is negative and continuing it affects the body promoting heart attacks, strokes, high-blood, diabetes, and similar medical related problems. Stress becomes active when stressors present itself. Some of the stressors include death, loose of job, childbirth, divorce, normal daily responsibilities and so forth. Stress is consistent to a degree and we all deal with everyday stress that helps us to function properly at home, in society and at a workplace. When we are challenged, meet head-on, aggravated, or simply emotional stress plays a large part. We can never terminate stress completely, but we can learn stress management techniques that help us to cope when stress escalates. If you stomach is in knots, your mind is boggled, and your body is tensed then you know stress has reached its limit. Then to manage stress one must understand how stress affects our body and mind, relate the mind and body’s responses to stress, and become acquainted with the stressors that trigger the stress. If you notice tension of the body, chaotic in mind, or stomach tension then you are over your limits and need to sit down and review to recognize the problems and why they exist. If you are over your limits, you must realize that it takes you to eliminate the problems. If you are in a building and your stress limits has reached its limit you might want to leave the building if possible to collect your thoughts. You can change most things in your life by contrast, comparing, analyzing the problems and pulling up your resources to deal with the problems. However, you cannot change all things in life, therefore let go and let someone else deal the problems that you cannot change. Fear is the underlying source of stress; therefore, we know your problem is stemmed from fear. To manage your stress you will need to review your fear, searching for valid reasons that the fear exists. What are you expecting to happen as a result of your problem? Do you expect the worse, or do you see there is a solution in front of you? Fear is a strong emotional stimulus that is triggered when danger presents self. Fear is triggered by an expectation. Some of us fear the worst will happen and fail to see that most common dangers are solvable. Unless you are on a plane with high jackers, or in another dangerous situation most fears are exaggerated to a large degree. For example if you are afraid of heights, you are expecting the worst believing you will fall if your feet are not on the ground. You might avoid going aboard an aircraft, climbing a ladder, or even standing on a chair. The truth is most plane rides are safer that traveling by motor vehicle and most ladders are sturdy if you position the ladder accordingly. Now if you stand in an unstable chair then of course your fear of falling is real, but if the chair is sturdy and you are not subject to dizziness then how are you going to fall? As you can see, fear of heights is both exaggerated and real. Therefore, you must review your problems, deduce the fears and find a solution to handle the problems in front of you. Deducing, analyzing, weeding through problems and resources are the key to managing stress. Of course, we have to consider planning, preparing, organizing, lists, and other details when it comes to stress management. Stress can make your life a rewarding place to live, or stress can destroy your nerves, body and mind.