ALL STRESSED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO!

Friday, February 22, 2002

Your heart is racing, your chest feels tight and your breathing quickens. What's happening? It could be stress. Some signs you're experiencing high levels of stress are:

• You feel irritable.
• You have sleep problems - you're either sleepy all the time or you can't sleep at all.
• You never experience joy.
• You lose your appetite or can't stop eating.
• You have trouble with relationships, and can't get along with friends and family members.

"People can take charge of how they respond to stressful situations," says Lee Ann Kelly, M.D., a psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. "There are positive behavioral changes, like making time for fun activities and identifying stress triggers, that people can learn." For additional tips, log onto www.MayoClinic.com, click Healthy Lifestyle Planners and choose Stress Management Planner for a personalized Stress Management Planner.

EDITORS: Dr. Kelly can explain how some simple coping tools, combined with an increased awareness of stress triggers can help you respond to stress in a healthier fashion. Call 480-301-4368 to arrange an interview. Media Contact: Anne Tewksbury 480-301-4368

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