It's no secret that we live in a world where it's easy to become bogged down by stress. Our responsibilities keep stacking up on top of us, and it feels like if we make a single, tiny misstep it's all going to come crashing down on top of us. Unfortunately, not only does this stress interfere with our happiness, it also takes a toll on our bodies - if left unchecked, stress can cause damage to almost every major part of the body, most notably our hearts and immune system, as well as causing depression. So how do we fight stress?

Stress is actually the releasing of certain hormones into the bloodstream by the brain. It's a natural act, designed to help our bodies work over-time to escape a dangerous situation. Our hearts beat faster and harder, our hearing increases, our lungs take in more oxygen - nearly every major system in the body is taxed to help us escape from harm. Although this is natural, prolonged stress is not, and can be extremely damaging to the body.

The first thing we have to focus on are the small things that we all let stack up on us. You know what I'm talking about - the traffic, that awful history professor, or the bratty children behind you in your favorite restaurant who think they've been taken to a playground. We all have to deal with these things, but it is important that you aren't letting them get to you. They're annoying, of course, but it's easy to build them up into something larger than they really are, especially if you're already in a bad mood. The thing to do: let it go. It isn't actually a threat to you, and you'll probably wind up laughing about it later. You have to take control, remind yourself that it's nothing serious, and definitely not something to get worked up about.

Obviously, all of our problems aren't small matters. We also have larger, more significant issues to deal with, and these can be much more difficult to escape. It could be that you have to work two jobs to pay the bills, or you are worried about your health or the health of a loved one, or perhaps you can't seem to find the right job for you. These are things that cannot be ignored. The way to handle them is to first make sure that you have done everything you can to take care of your situation. Once you have done that, you have to realize that there is nothing else for you to do, and any time spent lingering on it will only be destructive. It can be difficult, but it is something you must take control of. If you don't, not only will you be more miserable, but you won't be able to deal with the problem as effectively. Walk away from them - put them out of your mind, and focus on other, happier things.

Finally, consider yourself! Not only is a life filled with only responsibilities not fun, it's counter-productive and will have negative repercussions on your health. It can be very hard to set aside your problems when you are bored or have idle time, but what if you're doing something you love? Find those little things that bring joy into your life, and schedule them in wherever you can. It doesn't have to be anything big - long drives, fishing, crossword puzzles, lazy afternoons on your porch, anything that you enjoy. Also, keep it simple - you don't want to cause yourself grief trying to schedule in a time where you can relax!

There is no way to escape stress, but fortunately, we don't have to. Stress itself is natural, but living in stress is not, and it isn't something anyone has to do. If left unchecked, stress will wear away at you physically and make you ill equipped to handle your responsibilities, so slow down, take a fresh view of the world, and unwind.