HealthyLife Articles

Category: Success Over Stress

Calming Road Rage

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

Often it’s frightening. Sometimes it’s deadly.

Road rage-where flaring tempers mix with two-ton machines-continues to be a problem on America’s highways. Sometimes this problem leads to accidents, assaults, and even murder. It’s a puzzling problem in part because it can happen at anytime and anywhere that roads and vehicles are involved. Yet specific statistics on how often it occurs are hard to come by.

The biggest triggers are drivers who are texting, tailgaters, left-lane hogs, slow drivers, and drivers multitasking, according to an Expedia report.

When you come across an aggressive driver, you don’t want to engage him or her, said Scott Morofsky, author of the books The Daily Breath: Transform Your Life One Breath at a Time and Wellativity: In-Powering Wellness Through Communication.

Head off your own road rage or avoid the rage of others:

*Don’t turn that ignition.If you are feeling stressed and anxious before you even start your trip, then take time to calm down now, not after you are on the highway. Take that deep breath you always heard would work. You might even try counting from 1 to 10, inhaling on 1, exhaling on 2, up to 10 and back to 1 again.

*Stop right there.If you are already driving, and you feel your anger is starting to impact your judgment, pull over for a few moments. Is any problem important enough to risk lives?

*Don’t react or retaliate.You can’t control those other drivers, but you can control how you react to them. If someone is tailgating you, flipped you off, or is just infuriating you with bad driving habits, ignore them.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Is Being A Perfectionist Stressing You Out?

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

Have others called you a “perfectionist”? Do you get worried or anxious about needing to be perfect all the time? Do you often set standards that are difficult or even impossible to meet?

Wanting to do things well can be good for you in your personal and work life. But sometimes, it gets taken to an extreme.

Although you may think this behavior is harmless, the American Psychological Association says it’s often not. An unhealthy level of perfectionism can cause depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions. The key is to know whether your attitude is a healthy one or whether it’s causing you stress, says the Harvard Medical School.

Healthy perfectionism involves:

* Setting high standards that are achievable and make you feel good

* Doing things that you enjoy and that you do well

* Knowing your priorities and values, and spending your time on them

* Doing things that pay off for you in the end, rather than things that cost you too much time, energy and frustration

By contrast, unhealthy attitudes of perfectionism may include:

* Regularly setting goals that aren’t realistic for you

* Feeling overly competitive and that you have to win at everything

* Feeling that mistakes are a disaster and must never happen

* Trying to do something over and over that isn’t possible for you to do

If you find that you have unhealthy perfectionism and it’s interfering with your life, it may be time to speak with your doctor. Perfectionism can be a sign of a mental health issue that needs treatment from a professional counselor. Many people may also benefit from self-help or support groups, as well as stress management techniques. The National Institute of Mental Health has resources on its website that may help you get started. Visitwww.nimh.nih.gov.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Stress Eating – Spot It And Stop It

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

Stress eating, also called emotional eating, happens when a person eats in response to stress or emotions. Stress eating isn’t cued by actual hunger – and the behavior can lead to overeating, consuming junk food, and over time, weight gain.

Hunger and stress are linked. Some studies show that stress hormones can cause the body to crave certain foods. And sometimes it can be difficult to know whether you’re stress eating or actually hungry. How do you tell the difference – and what should you do when you want to turn to stress eating?

Signs of hunger

First, it’s important to be in tune with the body’s hunger cues. If you see signs of hunger, it may be time for a meal or snack. Consider the following:

*When did you last eat?If it’s been three hours or more, you’re probably hungry.

*Is your stomach grumbling?This is often a sign that your body is looking for food.

*How do you feel emotionally?Are you stressed out or anxious at the moment? If so, you may be looking for food to help calm your feelings.

*Could you eat nearly anything right now?With stress eating, a person will often crave a specific food, such as ice cream or chips. If you feel like you could eat a salad or an apple, you may be actually hungry.

*Do you have a headache, nausea or weakness?These may be signs that you waited too long to eat.

How to curb stress eating

Perhaps you’ve found that you do eat more during times of stress and you want to stop. Try these tips:

*Drink a glass of water.Dehydration can often be mistaken for hunger, and it may help take the edge off.

*Go for a walk or exercise.This relieves stress and can help take your mind off of food.

*Call a friend.If something is bothering you, try to talk to someone you trust.

*Try deep breathing, yoga or meditation.If you can, sit down and take deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth when you feel stressed. This has a calming effect and may help you overcome the craving. To help manage everyday stress, consider taking a yoga or meditation class.

Over time, you may find it gets easier to avoid stress eating. Each time you deal with stress without food, be proud of your accomplishment!

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Can Stress Really Break Your Heart?

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

We know that stress affects the body in many ways. When you’re stressed, your heart may race, you may sweat or get a headache and some people even get sick. But experts say that extreme stress can also cause a condition known as broken heart syndrome.

Broken heart syndrome is sometimes called stress-induced or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It can happen when someone has extreme stress like grief, shock or anger. It can also happen when the body is under physical stress, such as extreme exercise, surgery or dealing with a serious illness.

Why does broken heart syndrome happen?

Some medical experts believe that a high release of stress hormones affects how well the heart can pump blood, causing a problem with the heart muscle. This effect is only temporary, however, and the heart usually returns to its normal function. Or, high stress may cause a spasm in one of the arteries that supplies blood to the heart.

What does broken heart syndrome look like?

Symptoms of broken heart syndrome look a lot like a heart attack. They include chest pain and feeling out of breath. These symptoms begin within a few minutes to hours after the stressful event happens.

Because there’s no way to know if you have broken heart syndrome or a heart attack, it’s important to go to the emergency room if you notice these symptoms. Usually, the doctors will run tests like a chest x-ray, EKG or other procedures to see how the heart is working. These tests are painless.

How is it treated?

First, the doctors will want to improve blood flow to the heart. Certain medicines for blood pressure may be used or blood thinners. In some cases, medicines for anxiety are used to help lower stress hormones in the body.

Some people may need to stay in the hospital for a few days. Most people recover within a few days without any long-term damage to their heart.

Remember, if you have chest pain or shortness of breath, it’s always important to get medical help right away.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Is It Anxiety – Or Just Stress?

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

Many people have used the word “anxiety” to simply mean they were worried or stressed about an event. But, are anxiety and stress really the same thing?

According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, anxiety can be a different – and serious – mental health illness that goes beyond just stress. How do you know if it’s more than just daily stress? Here are some key differences:

*Length of time:The worry goes on for months without relief.

*Level of worry:You regularly have attacks of intense fear and worry about when the next attack will happen. These episodes may make you feel out of control.

*Interferes with life:People with anxiety may avoid social situations, have trouble at work, and feel self-conscious around other people.

*Physical symptoms:Anxiety can make it difficult to sleep and may cause intense fatigue, sweating, trembling or nausea.

If you’re worried that you have more than just typical stress, seek medical care. Many people with anxiety can get relief with their doctor’s help. Possible treatments include:

*Talk therapy:A mental health professional can talk with you about your anxiety and help you find ways to cope.

*Self-help and support groups:Many people find that talking to others with anxiety (in person or online) is helpful.

*Stress management:Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and some medications can help improve anxiety symptoms. This is often used in combination with other treatment methods.

*Medicines:Many medicines can treat anxiety, but they are not a “cure.” They can help calm symptoms of anxiety so a person can function in daily life.

Diagnosing anxiety isn’t always simple to do, but talking with a doctor about your symptoms is an important first step. From there, you can decide if treatment is needed.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Stress Hormones & Your Health

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

When you are under stress, your body has a physical and chemical reaction that helps it respond to trouble. It releases hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones speed up your heart rate, make you sweat, send sugar into your blood and give you a burst of energy.

This stress response has helped humans survive over time. It’s not always a bad thing. Without some stress, our bodies would not learn how to adapt to challenges. But, these hormones are meant to be released in short bursts only, to help a person get out of immediate danger.

The problem arises when someone is stressed all the time. Being under stress every day means these stress hormones are never fully turned off. This constant flood of stress hormones can be harmful to your health.

Cortisol and adrenaline can shut off body functions that are not essential to survival at that moment. Those functions include your immune system, reproductive system and digestion.

In addition, having high levels of stress hormones for a long time can raise your risk of heart disease, digestive problems, depression, anxiety, sleep problems and weight gain.

There is good news. Researchers are finding that certain activities can help lower your stress hormone levels. They include:

* Getting exercise. Although you may not feel like walking or swimming when you’re stressed, exercise lowers stress levels. And, it boosts serotonin, which is a hormone that helps you feel calm and happy.

* Listening to music. Have a favorite relaxing song list on your phone or computer that you can use to feel calmer.

* Getting a massage. This can also help your body produce more serotonin, which can improve your mood.

* Finding something funny. Laughing and humor can lower cortisol levels. Laugh with a friend or family member, or read a humorous book.

* Dancing. People who dance regularly may have lower cortisol levels.

* Drawing, coloring or painting. In fact, any activity in which you create something can work.

Other activities that help reduce stress include getting adequate sleep, avoiding excess coffee and eating a healthy diet.

If you feel overwhelmed by stress, talk with your doctor. There are therapies that can help you. Remember, lowering stress can help you enjoy life more and take better care of yourself.

Sources: American Heart Association, American Institute of Stress, American Psychological Association, National Institute of Mental Health

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Coping With Life’s Challenges

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

Stress happens to everyone at some point. We all face problems and situations that can be stressful. This can be losing a job, an unexpected move, losing a loved one, or problems at work. Even happy events such as a marriage, new baby, or new job can cause stress and anxiety.

Too much stress can hurt your health. The American Psychological Association says chronic stress can lead to heart disease, depression, headaches, weight gain, and other health problems.

But no one can avoid stress completely. The best strategy is to learn ways you can cope with the challenges of life and lower your stress levels through healthy thoughts and habits. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these tips:

* Figure out what you can and can’t control. If you have no control over something (like the weather or someone else’s behavior), try not to worry about it.

* Tackle small, doable problems if the big ones can’t be done right now.

* See change as an important lesson and a challenge that will help you learn and grow.

* If you have conflicts with others, try to address them calmly. Resolving differences can relieve stress, anxiety and anger.

* When you’re feeling stressed, talk with someone you trust.

* Be realistic with your schedule. Say “no” to things you can’t do.

* Get regular exercise. It can lower stress levels and help you sleep better.

* Choose healthy foods to nourish your body and help you feel your best.

* Take part in an activity you enjoy that can take your mind off stressful things. Sports, music, classes, or just a regular walk around the neighborhood can help you clear your mind.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Is Your Relationship In Trouble?

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

Is your relationship stormy? Indifferent? One-sided? According to Pennsylvania psychologist, Dr. Michael S. Broder, these are the three types of troubled relationships. They account for the high divorce rate, as well as the much higher percentage of non-married relationships that end.

Stormy Relationship:

This type has plenty of passion, but it may not be the positive kind. Positive passion is a relationship at its best. Too much negative passion results in a great amount of anger and discomfort. At the extreme, these relationships can become abusive and even dangerous. A relationship with a lot of passion and little or no comfort can still be highly charged romantically and sexually. In some cases the most passionate sex actually occurs after the meanest and volatile arguments. The sad part is that the cause of the anger is never dealt with or resolved. Thus, the pattern can continue indefinitely.

Indifferent Relationship:

With this type, most-if not all-of the passion is missing. There can be a very comfortable living arrangement, but partners may have little feeling or sexual desire for each other. Sometimes partners simply grow apart without anger, or there can be as much anger as there is in the typical stormy relationship. The main difference is that there’s just not the tendency to argue or do battle with each other. This may be a result of the partners’ personality styles, or the absence of passion-including negative passion. Instead, the relationship merely begins to die a slow and quiet death. In other words, it may be brain alive but heart dead.

One-Sided Relationships:

In this type, one person usually puts out much more effort and energy to maintain and nurture the relationship than does the other. One partner can be quite content, having all the passion and comfort he or she needs. Yet the other partner feels somewhat to totally unfulfilled.

In all types of troubled relationships it is important to ask: “What is the potential for change?” If the answer is none, the next question to ask yourself is, “Is this where I still want to be?”

Adapted from Can Your Relationship Be Saved? How to Know Whether to Stay or Go by Dr. Michael S. Broder.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Is Stress Hurting Your Teeth?

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

It’s no secret that high stress levels can harm your health. The American Psychological Association says ongoing stress can increase your risk of heart disease and depression. Stress may be hurting your teeth as well, if it causes you to grind your teeth.

Dentists refer to teeth grinding as bruxism. Many people grind their teeth during sleep, but it can also occur during the day. It’s often not done consciously, so you may not know you’re doing it at all. But the long-term effects on your dental health can be painful.

People who grind their teeth may end up with temporomandibular disorder, or TMD. Symptoms of TMD include:

* Difficulty opening your jaw wide

* Pain when chewing

* Clicking or popping noises when you open your mouth wide

* Headaches, neck pain, or jaw pain

If you’re having any of these symptoms, be sure to talk with your doctor or dentist. You may need an exam and some tests done. If you are grinding your teeth, there are some fairly simple ways to treat the problem. Some of the most common treatments include:

* Stress management, such as relaxation techniques, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep. The American Academy of Orofacial Pain says this is one of the best ways to help alleviate grinding.

* Anti-inflammatory medications or moist heat therapy for relief. This can help with pain and reduce swelling.

* A special mouth guard you can wear at night to keep your teeth from getting cracked or damaged in your sleep. Your dentist can make a mold of your teeth and have the guard fitted for you.

Whatever is causing your stress, you can do your body – and your teeth – a favor by finding ways to manage it. If you need additional help, don’t be afraid to talk with your physician.

Source: National Institutes of Health

5 great ways to manage stress

* Do something you enjoy.

* Get regular exercise.

* Recognize there are things you can’t change.

* Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

* Ask for help when you need it.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Deep Breathing Exercise To Manage Stress

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

When…

* You are frustrated

* You feel you have tried everything

* You are bored with your life

* People say you need to change

* You feel you’ve failed

* You have a bad habit

Stop what you’re doing

DO THIS:Shift your attention fully to your belly. Take at least two full, slow, deep breaths into and out of your belly. Then fill your mind with an image of someone you love. Hold the positive feelings that emerge in the area around your heart.

Ask yourself if the way you have handled the problem so far has worked. If it hasn’t, ask the calmer part of you for a new solution.

Source: Stress Free for Good: 10 Scientifically Proven Life Skills for Health and Happiness by Dr. Fred Luskin and Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026