Stress Less in 7 Steps

While short-term stress might cause worry or a sleepless night, stress that lasts longer can produce or contribute to high blood pressure, digestive difficulties, fatigue, heart problems, neck and back pain, obesity, breathing disorders, headaches, insomnia, anger, depression, lowered sexual desire, and more. Fortunately, there are many good ways to short-circuit the effects of stress (see suggestions below).

People differ in what triggers their stress as well as in which methods successfully manage it. What works to lower your stress might not work for your best friend. The wisest course is to find several effective de-stressing techniques. "You have to have a whole bunch of things in your toolkit," says Dr. Molitor, who is also a psychologist in private practice in Wilmette, Illinois, and a Public Education Coordinator for the American Psychological Association.

To manage stress, she says, you need to develop ways to pace yourself and take time out. Stress relievers are vital, she adds, "like paying yourself first, or putting on your oxygen mask (on an airplane) before taking care of your kids."

Facing challenges

Ramona Russell has been on the Stress Express ever since going to college full-time while working three jobs. "I have a very Type A personality and I'm intense. I'm a recovering perfectionist," she says.