Understanding the Silent Killer, "Stress" !

I think it is fair to say that all of us at one time or another engage the battle field aginst the silent serial killer, and robber of a happy life , known as STRESS!  Many people consider stress to be something that happens to them, as a result of an uncontrollable, unplanned, situation or an event such as an injury or a job promotion. Others think that stress is what happens to our body or our mind and or our behaviour in response to an event in our life such as heart pounding, anxiety, or nail biting . While stress does involve events and our response to them, these are not the most important factors. How we manage our thoughts about the situations in which we find ourselves is, I believe,  the true critical factor.
When something happens to us, we automatically evaluate the situation mentally. We decide if it is threatening to us, how that situation should be delt with and what skills could be used. If we decide that the demands of the situation outweigh the skills we have, then we label the situation as "stressful"  If we decide that our coping skills outweigh the demands of the situation we are facing, then we don't see it as "stressful."
Everyone sees a situation differently and we all have different coping skills. For this reason, no two people will respond exactly the same way to a given situation. Additionally, not all situations that are labeled "stressful" are always negative. The birth of a child, being promoted in your job or moving to a new home may not be perceived as threatening. However, we may feel that certain situations are "stressful" because we don't feel fully prepared to deal with them. It is true that some situations in life are stress-provoking, but it is our thoughts that determine whether they will become a problem to us.
How we perceive a stress-provoking event and how we react to it determines its impact on our health. We may be motivated and invigorated by the events in our lives, or we may see some of those events as "stressful" and respond in a manner that may have a negative effect on our physical, mental and social well-being. If we always respond in a negative way to the situations that we have to face,  our health and happiness may suffer. By understanding ourselves and our reactions to stress-provoking situations, we can learn to handle stress more effectively.
Please try to understand that you have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of coping with your stress. Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems that come along. The ultimate goal is for all of to have a balanced life, with time for work, building relationships, enjoying relaxation, and finding some special time for fun – plus the determination to hold up and choosing not to buckle under pressure and meet those challenges head on. You Can Do It!