Can we define stress is one word?  What is stress and how to people know that they are stressed?

Stress can come in many forms and it can be positive or negative. The negative kind is the most common and most damaging to our wellness, so we will focus on that in this blog. Stress not only affects us mentally but physically as well. When the mind is stressed the body is greatly affected. One feels tired,irritable,drained and just plain exhausted. It's like having a Flu.

Day in and day out we all feel stress. Driving to work and sitting in traffic can be stressful, running late to an appointment or meeting, anticipating a test in school can be stressful, having to give a presentation at work, and even arguments with loved ones can stress us out. Making plans on where to go on the next vacation or what car to buy can also bring on stress. And how about having a bad hair day, ladies? OMG! Disaster Alert!  Not really, put it up in a bun with a tasteful clip, or wear a hat and problem fixed. Right? Well , maybe short term.

Some of us manage stress better than others but we all have our own ways to cope with Stress in our lives.

Listening to Music and kicking back with a nice book can be a great remedy against stress. Meeting up with a friend for a chat can also help. Doing Art in which one can express themselves is a good stress coping technique, as is having a great work out. Maybe little kick boxing, dancing or yoga can help clear one's Mind and free the Body of the tension. Sometimes just counting to ten in a quiet corner, or on a toilet seat can do wonder and bring your stress level down. It works , trust me.

I personally cope with stress  by taking a nice long drive along the coast . Beats the sitting and counting to 10 on the toilet seat. The warm breeze,  the scent of the ocean and the endles road , ah so peaceful, until the guy behind you lays on his horn and snaps you right out of your Zen state. What can I say, other people tend to add to our stress. Roadrage for example.

As defined in Webster’s Dictionary Stress falls into 3 categories:

1-a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc.

2- something that causes strong feelings of worry or anxiety

3-physical force or pressure

Life in general is stressful, but no one is exempt from it. While there are circumstances that present challenges in every aspect of our lives, such as losing a job or a home and thereby losing the lifestyle, people often stress over things they have no control over. Ever heard the saying “Don’t sweat the small stuff”? Well, it is true, because how many times have you wasted your time and patience over something that others have done. When someone else takes credit for you projects at work or school can be discouraging and even make you erraged, but instead of worrying and being anxious over that speak up. Share what is on your mind with your superiors and make it known that the project was success due to your own doing.

And how about when you are crushing on someone and have the urge to tell them how you feel, and it is eating you alive but you can't find courage to tell them. Afterall no one wants to be rejected or laughed at. This is  also a form of Stress. It may not necessarily appear as a negative thing, but it is not beneficial to your wellness. The worry and the anxiety can drive you nuts. It can bring you to a boiling point and make you do crazy things.  Ever done something crazy and felt like a fool later on? Yup, I am sure you have. But didn't you learn from those experiences? Every crazy thing you do in life teaches you a lesson.

So my friend shake of that fear of rejection and march right up to your crush and find a way to tell him.her how you feel. Don't waste time on imagining what could be. Take charge and go fo it, for without the risk they is not gain. Remember, all he or she can say is " Sorry I don't feel the same way" then again the answer maybe suprising. Go on, you have nothing to lose.

It is inevitable that Stress can affect our health and if one can not find a way to cope with it, it can cause a real damage. The sooner one comes to the terms that things will happen that are well beyond your control, the sooner you will be at peace.And for things that we do have spme control over, we need to remember that not everything will go as we plan and learning to adjust is the best advise one can give you.

Please check out some helpful Links in our News-Resource and learn more about stress coping techniques. You can even test your Stress.

What stresses you the most? Share with us in the "Leave Feedback" section. 

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Over the past decade I have come to understand that people come from different walks of Life and perceive the World in different ways. Reality is that we will not agree on everything or see things eye to eye, but I am sure we can all agree on one thing and that is that we all have emotions. We know happiness, we know sorrow, we know love, we know fear, we know defeat and we know success.We are human beings made of flesh and blood. Our feelings and emotions guide us through life and sometimes make it difficult to see a clear picture. When that happens it is nice to have someone to turn to and get a different point of view. Let us be that "someone" to you.

About me and how Heart2Heart vision came to Life.

I grew up on 2 different continents and was fortunate to live in 3 different countries and get accustomed to a new culture and way of Life. Each place was different yet similar in a way. People may have spoken a different language, but we weren't all that different. Language of emotion is universal.

After finishing high school overseas I relocated to the USA with family . Just like many young adults I wanted to find my purpose in Life and choose a right career path to pursue. Initially I was set on becoming a physician, but somewhere along the way my path shifted and I ended up pursuing the field of Psychology. I always found myself wanting to help and many of my friends have sought my advice, so in a way it felt natural to me. 

Just like many of you out there I ‘ve had a share of challenges in my life. Some of those were average and managable, while others were life altering and truly tested my persona. I moved out on my own in my early 20s. Many factors were involved in my decision to pursue my freedom and take the leap into the unknown. The decision to leave "the Nest" did not come lightly but it was something I needed to do at that time. I know for some of you that may not be a big deal, but in my upbringing that was not a norm.

I was struggling to find the “happy place” in life while trying to make sense of everything that went wrong in my Life. For a long time I had doubts and was at war with my own thoughts. Why did I have to experience all this pain and agony. Was I destined to be unhappy and was I really non-relevant in this World? Was I not worthy of love and why no one cared to reach out and take my hand? I needed someone to say "everything is going to be ok." And after a while of  deep depression and months of soul searching I made a big decision that changed my Life forever. I began writting my own Destiny. I refused to be the victim and I was ready to do what ever it takes to break out of my shell. That was my wake-up call.

We all have the power to change our lives, we just need to believe enough in ourselves and go for it. When you hit the rock bottom, the only way is up.

My road to self discovery was rocky and challenged me physically and mentally, but it truly made me gain trust in myself. It made me believe that I am capable of making the right decision and finding a way out of the darkness. Each time I encountered an obstacle my determination and strength got tested, that's for sure. Sometimes I folded under the pressure , but most of the time I came out on top. Every challenging moment in my Life was a blessing in diguise that helped me identify and realize my full potential. I feel that am a true testimony to the saying" What doesn't kill you, makes you stonger."

Heart2Heart Vision

My vision for Heart2Heart surfaced during a project while at the University.I conducted a survey for my Psychology class assignment following which I identified that 70% of my focus group would consider seeing a therapist if they could do it anonymously. The remainder said that it is a waste of time and that only crazy people require "shrink therapy" . However quite a few of them admitted to keeping a journal where they "vented" , but still they lacked the two-way communication. Journals don't talk back. And therapy sessions one on one, or in groups can be intimidating.

Upon completion of my research I had a vision to create a free site for people to utilize as a diary,yet remain anonymous. They would also have the option to ask questions and seek advice, but no one would push them to talk (in this case write). This would be their outlet of emotions on their own terms and at their own time. And for myself and now my team it would be an opportunity to share our expertise and hopefully make a difference in someone's life. 

If this speaks to you, please take some time and let us know what is on your mind and in your heart.We would love to hear from you.

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