What do you do to relieve your stress? Take drugs, pain medication, drink alcohol, smoke, or maybe eat too much? You might feel that these things help you reduce your stress, but in reality it is actually making you more vulnerable and sensitive to more stress.
One major healthy way to reduce is to exercise. Come on, it's not that bad.... Exercise reduces the production of stress hormones and neurochemicals. Which in turn prevents you from damaging your body from prolonged stress. Some research suggests that exercising acts as an antidepressant, anxiolytic (fights anxiety), and sleeping aid for many people.
So how does exercise reduce stress?
-It pumps up your endorphins (your brain's "feel-good" neurotransmitters)
-It helps to better cope with your stressors
-It's meditation in movement
-It improves your mood
How do I get started?
-Consult your doctor
-Walk before you run
-Exercise in ways that you love (swimming, playing tennis)
-Pick a time and stick with it
How do I motivate myself to stick to it?
-Set goals (small goals at first, then gradually increase them)
-Find a friend
-Spice up your routines and change them sometimes
To help you further, here is a GREAT interactive site with more information about stress and how to manage it. It has some really beneficial tips:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/managingstress/htm/_no_50_no_0.htm
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