by Scott Hayden

Created on: June 03, 2010   Last Updated: April 13, 2012

With the frenetic pace of life and the number of people who are collapsing from physical and mental exhaustion, is it any wonder that the pharmaceutical industry is now a multi-billion dollar business? Drugs are not always necessary to fight stress. When you're totally frazzled you might think it's not possible to find time to chill out and forget about the world and all of its pressures. The bad news is that if you don't relax you'll be facing serious health problems down the road. You can, however, consciously create space for yourself to relax and combat stress. You'll need to be persistent and dedicated to make this work.

 
Start with What You Eat and Drink

 
If you don't eat right, your efforts to fight stress will be in vain. The mind and body are linked so you should think of them as a single entity. Eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables, because they will keep your body healthy on a cellular level. Foods will lots of trans fat will block many of the chemical reactions that are necessary for you to function normally. Don't drink too much coffee; instead, drink green tea, which contains polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant. Sugar and caffeine will give you a boost, but it's unnatural energy. When you crash (and this will happen) you will crash even harder. Avoid drinking too many soft drinks. You'll feel more relaxed and you'll sleep better.

 
Get Enough Sleep

 
Trying to survive on less sleep will be bad for you and those close to you. Not giving your body adequate time to recharge itself is setting the stage for reduced productivity, irrational thinking, angry outbursts and accidents. The amount of sleep that you need will depend on your gender, age and state of health. Most adults need seven to eight hours every night.

 
Make Time for Enjoyable Things

 
Set a few minutes aside each day to close your eyes and relax. Take deep breaths, allowing your abdomen to expand. Inhale through your nose, and exhale through your mouth. Don't let other obligations interfere with this. Nurturing yourself isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. You can choose to do something that gives you pleasure like reading a book, doing a crossword puzzle, playing an online game or tidying up the house. Get together with friends when you can. A strong support system can shield you from the negative effects of stress.

 
Avoid Unnecessary Stress

 
Identify the things that cause your stress levels to rise. You'd be surprised how many stressors can be eliminated permanently. Certain people can grind your nerves, so, stop spending time with them. Why waste time and energy trying to turn this kind of relationship around? Taking on more responsibilities than you're capable of handling will definitely increase stress. Learn to say no and acknowledge that you have limits.

 
Dealing with stress is necessary to stop anxiety from taking over your life. Using these simple techniques, one should have minimal problems reducing daily stress. If these methods don't work, talk to your doctor. There might be an underlying physical condition that is causing trouble.      

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