A N I S 97

managed to get this info from e-mail which i subscribed to a newsletter. good info to share!

The power of thought

“Stress has a lot to do with the way we think about what’s happening around us,” according to Julie Nelligan, Ph.D., a psychologist at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. “If the holidays are synonymous with family guilt or not having enough time, money or whatever, you’ll probably feel stressed.”

Feeling overwhelmed is no fun. But if your skin erupts or your joints flare as well, holidays can be pretty grim. To combat holiday pressures, Dr. Nelligan recommends four simple guidelines:

1. Know what stresses you. Is it particular people, travel, obligations or maybe finances? Knowing the triggers for your own stress will help you manage them. Then you can focus on minimizing your exposure to them. (1st thing to do is get to know what triggers u!)



2. Know how you respond to stress. When you feel pressured, do you get overly emotional, overeat, skip meals, focus on sweets, sleep poorly, smoke more or get cranky? Learn to recognize your own personal “stress signals.” Your goal is to catch them early, before you begin to feel too strained. (respond? say it out! to anybody that feels related or a listener)



3. Make small adjustments to regain control. Once your behavior signals that you are stressed, make small changes. Get more sleep or take a nap during the day. Drink more water and less caffeine. Avoid alcohol and smoking. (sleep is the best medicine! lalalalla~ sleep always help in reducing stress. yes! 110% agree!)



4. Be good to yourself. Our focus on others is a major component of holiday stress, according to Dr. Nelligan. December is often crammed with activities. All the shopping, bright lights and parties can be fun, but take time to recharge. Give yourself the gift of quiet time, as a break between all the activities. (shopping! but now window shopping ONLY! :P)