Too much stress in our lives can be a contributing factor of many health problems. Some of these health problems are allergies, asthma, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Not all stress is bad. Dealing with deadlines, confrontations and competition adds interest to our lives and motivates us. However, we don't want to totally eliminate stress but instead learn how to manage it. When we are faced with stressful situations, our bodies react in a various ways. Our digestion slows down, breathing speeds up, heart races and blood pressure soars, perspiration cools the body, muscles tense, blood clots faster, and sugar and fats pour into the blood. With all of these things going on inside our bodies, it's no wonder that too much stress can be harmful.

The first step in beginning to manage stress is to recognize that stress is starting to affect your life. The good news is that there are things you can do to help deal you with stressful situations.

1. It's important to stay healthy so that you can handle stress better.
2. Lean on your friends and family for support.
3. Always remember to have fun.
4. The more you believe in yourself, the harder it is for stress to get you down.
5. Hone your communication skills to reduce miscommunication.
6. Learn coping skills such as meditation, visualization, relaxation and biofeedback.
7. Try to look at the bright side.

Stress is a part of your life. You should try to determine how to solve the problem, adapt to the problem or accept it and the fact that you can't change it. Additionally, taking control of your life and anticipating problems before they occur can help reduce stress. It's important to keep things in perspective and determine their priorities and worst case scenarios.

Managing stress is up to each individual. It's all about changing one's point of view and taking control of their life, health and happiness. Doing these things will help to add true balance to life.