Home
>
Stress Management
>
Living on the Edge: Stressed Out and Nowhere to Go

Living on the Edge: Stressed Out and Nowhere to Go

Is your stress level higher than it should be? Are you struggling with changes in life that you neither anticipated nor caused? If so, keep reading! Most of us carry far more stress than did our parents and grandparents. Life seems more complicated than ever. Nothing is certain, reality is artificially produced, and fantasy is real. No wonder we're confused!

Various life changes are assigned Life Crisis Units (LCUs). Stressors are cumulative, therefore, the more stressful situations you face, the more dangerous your stress becomes. The negative consequences of stress might be the result of one big event or the cumulative result of several smaller events.

The key is to be aware of the dangers associated with unmanaged stress. For instance, the following life events contribute to your stress. The number in parentheses indicates the Life Crisis Units associated with that event.

Death of a spouse (100)

Divorce (73)

Personal illness or injury (53)

Fired at work (47)

Retirement (45)

Change of financial state (38)

A large mortgage or loan (30)

Trouble with in-laws (29)

Trouble with boss (23)

Change in church activities (19)

Christmas (12)

The list is much longer, but you get the point. Here's the deal-people who score over 300 LCUs are 80% more likely to be sick as a result of their stress. People who score 200-299 are 50% more likely to get sick. And people who score 150-199 are 33% more likely to get sick.

So, stress has health-related consequences. What can you do to manage stress? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Eliminate sources of stress that can be eliminated. Don't continue to do something that poses a potential health risk.

2. Seek counsel to help deal with your stress. A friend of mine recently lost his job. During his conversations with his friends he discovered that most of them had lost their jobs at one point. They, therefore, were able to encourage him through a difficult time.

3. Fix what you can; ignore what you can't fix. Worrying about things you can't change is a senseless waste of time and effort. Don't give your energies to situations you can't directly impact.

4. Redirect your energies away from stress and toward positive people and activities. Sitting around thinking about being stressed is not a solution to your stress. Begin a hobby, clean out a closet, go for a walk, or take a trip to the library or local coffee shop. Do something positive to help you put the stressful situations out of your mind.

Life is plenty stressful; it's important that we learn to manage stress so that we can help others deal with their stresses. Think about it!

Dr. Terry Hadaway is a freelance writer and university professor who has numerous books and articles to his credit. You can learn more about his work at http://www.thinkezine.com

bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..

In The News:

Learn how to act against cybercriminals in 2026 with essential security steps like two-factor authentication, software updates and credit freezing.

Choose between OpenAI releasing Sora text-to-video model, the AI race heating up, or Waymo driverless cars launching in cities across the country

Learn how to set up Google Maps and Apple Maps on your phone to automatically remember where you parked. Step-by-step instructions for enabling location services and parking detection.

Phishing scammers use rnicrosoft.com domain to impersonate Microsoft by replacing "m" with "rn" in typosquatting attacks that steal login credentials.

OpenAI announces new teen safety rules for ChatGPT users under 18, blocking romantic roleplay and requiring extra caution on body image topics.

A 2025 data breach at fintech company 700Credit exposes personal information of more than 5.8 million people through compromised third-party integration partner.

Retailers lose $76.5 billion annually to return fraud as nearly 10% of U.S. retail returns involve fraudulent activity, with $850 billion in returns expected in 2025.

ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.

ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.

Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.

DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.

Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.

New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.

Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.

New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.

Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.

Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.

New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.

The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.

San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.

FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.

Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.

Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.

Living on the Edge: Stressed Out and Nowhere to Go

Stress Management