"This is driving me to drink" a once popular humours phrase is rooted in the fact that many times stress is the root cause for the consumption of alcohol.

While it may be true that someone under stress may have a tendency to seek a good stiff drink; it is just as true that the chronic consumption of alcohol can cause stress. Moderate consumption of alcohol can actually have some beneficial effects on one's health. The problem lies when the alcohol consumption is heavy and becomes more and more frequent as a reason to relieve stress. This type of compulsive behavior over time will actually worsen the stress in one's life.

Heavy alcohol consumption stimulates the hypothalamus, the pituitary, and the adrenal glands. A side effect of this is an increase in the amount of cortisol and adrenaline produced. Although both of these to chemicals alone don't cause stress directly, it is believed they play a role in the symptoms.

As you may have experienced, stress makes it more difficult to concentrate and focus. These are also effects that accompany alcohol consumption. So you can see from the math that someone who is feeling the effects of stress and is under the influence of alcohol is getting a heavy does of concentration inhibition... probably at a time when they need clear thinking the most.

Exercise is known as one of the best tools and defenses against stress. Unfortunately consumption of alcohol doesn't lend itself to motivating one to go have a workout. So, the more frequently the drinking the less frequently it is found that people engage in healthy activity.

In addition, heavy consumption of alcohol suppresses one's appetite. Yet at the same time, alcohol is not calorie free. So again, someone who has the propensity to consume alcohol is getting a double dip by decreasing their motivation to maintain a healthy while consuming non nutritional calories provided in alcoholic beverages.

Along with everything else in the spiral of excessive alcohol consumption and stress, comes the fact that alcohol debilitates one's mental faculties, thus making it even more difficult for the drinker to think rationally. In this state, more mistakes are made, important tasks and dates are missed or mis-timed which only heightens the stress that is already surrounding this person. In an alcoholic state, the person can literally not even think their way out of their predicament... again causing yet more stress.

As you can see, this is a perilous cycle a person get into... the stress encourages drinking and the drinking creates scenarios that produce more stress. Although the results of alcohol and stress vary from person to person, the lesson learned is that teaching yourself to have a drink to relieve stress is not a solution or a habit to get into.

If a person finds themselves engaged in this endless loop of self destruction, the key is to break the cycle. It is imperative that this person first finds an alternative for dealing with the stress in their life. By doing this, the individual will immediately relieve the alcohol induced stress and thus immediately reduce a significant portion of the overall stress right there.

In many cases something as simple as proper diet and beginning an exercise program or other physical activities are an excellent starting point.

By: Jeff Foster
For more important information on stress reduction, wellness information and other topics on your health, be sure to visit 0-stress.com where we provide a variety of stress treatment information and so much more.

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There is an old saying, "laughter is the best medicine". Why not treat yourself to some laughter? Visit our jokes index and relax with some jokes, humor and humerous anecdotes.

Lavender aromatherapy Lavender is considered the most useful of all essential oils. Lavender is known to help relieve headaches, insomnia, tension and stress. Its therapeutic properties have been well chronicled all over the world.

Originally an inhabitant of the Mediterranean countries, this perennial herb has long been recognized for its exotic perfume and medicinal properties. Used in past by the ancient Romans for its healing and antiseptic qualities, the name itself comes from the Latin "lavare" or "to wash". Tibetans still make an edible lavender butter to use as part of a traditional treatment for nervous disorders. Today, the essential oil of lavender is widely used across Europe and North America for a number of illness and medical problems.

Lavender is just a beautiful herb in your garden. It has gray-green, pointing leaves that grow in a bushy, spreading manner. It is crowned with tall spikes of beautiful pale violet flowers during summer. As an ornamental flower, lavender is unique, sporting exotic fragrance, beauty and a rich harvest of sweet smelling blooms. Old English Lavender, a popular inhabitant of a cottage garden, can grow up to two to three feet high, producing fragrant grayish leaves and blue/purple flowers. The more compact variety Hidcote, has darker blue flowers, grows to around a foot high and is very pretty in any flower or herb garden.

The easiest way to propagate lavender is to cut softwood cuttings in the spring. However, as lavender benefits from a light pruning in early autumn, these clippings make excellent new plants too, as long as you protect them from frosts and winter bite.

With its flowery fragrance Lavender is the most versatile and useful oil. If you are a newbie to essential oils, you may need to start here by using lavender oil. Called the "Swiss army knife of essential oils", because of its versatility, lavender is very soothing to sun burnt skin and is used to cleanse cuts and skin irritations. Essential oil of lavender is used in aromatherapy practices to get rid of depression, fight tiredness and get relaxation. It has strong disinfectant properties and was even used on the wars to prevent infection and relieve pain.

A drop of lavender oil mixed with a teaspoon of carrier oil, such as grape seed and massaged into the temples and back of the neck will drive away headaches. Mixed with any massage oil, it also helps relieve the pain of arthritis or aching muscles. Occasionally, just a small cotton ball with droplets of lavender near your pillow can help you drift off to a deep sleep. Lavender essential oil can help reduce anger and frustration, while improving your self esteem. Lavender is found to elicit the emotion of happiness. Lavender has a property of calming and sedating effects.

You can also use lavender, by scenting a relaxing and antiseptic bath by slowly adding lavender droplets and letting the bath water run over it as it fills the bath. Fresh lavender flowers are excellent for bath too.

Dried lavender is a tool to experience the sheer aromatic properties in a relaxed ambience. To dry your lavender, strip the leaves or the just opening flowers from the stalk and spread out in a warm place, before using in pot pourris to fragrance your rooms. Around your home, dried lavender stalks can be burned like incense sticks or burned on the fire for their wonderful fragrance.

By: Tan Jian Yong
http://www.pickaebook.com/aromatherapy.

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There is an old saying, "laughter is the best medicine". Why not treat yourself to some laughter? Visit our jokes index and relax with some jokes, humor and humerous anecdotes.

If you are feeling anxious or stressed or having difficulties sleeping, relaxation techniques can be useful in helping to calm your mind and body.

The following are some relaxation techniques you can try. Ideally, if you can, practise one or more of them on a daily basis. The techniques are designed to help you switch off and take your mind away from the immediate thoughts which might otherwise preoccupy you, so don’t use the exercises in any environment where for health or safety reasons you need to concentrate fully on another task, e.g. when driving or when operating machinery or using potentially dangerous equipment or tools!

To prepare yourself for each exercise, find somewhere comfortable, where you will not be disturbed and sit or lie in a position which you find comfortable.

Exercise A: Counting Backwards

Shut your eyes and start counting backward from a number of your choosing. This might be say, 30 or 40, or whatever number you feel is realistic for you in the time frame you have allocated for the exercise. I would suggest that you don’t set yourself too high a number if you feel that you will not be able to keep this up on a regular basis. It is better to build up gradually from a relatively low starting point than to set yourself a target that you are unlikely to be able to keep up. If you do find yourself losing impetus, then lower the target number.

Count backwards in the following way:

• Breathe in slowly and deeply, filling your lungs (if you are breathing in a relaxed way from your diaphragm, ideally your stomach should be filling out as you breathe rather than your upper chest).
• After your in-breath has finished, breathe out in the same slow, relaxed measured, manner.
• At the end of your out-breath say to yourself the number you have reached.
• Once your breath has expired you will naturally begin to breathe in again, without having to force yourself. Allow this natural process to take place and repeat the in-breath, followed by the out-breath, followed by the next number down.
• Repeat this process until you have reached zero. You can if you wish, then repeat the whole process again, starting from your target number.

NB. If you find at any time or times that you lose count of where you are or that your concentration wonders, just draw yourself back into the exercise and resume counting at the last point you can remember.

Exercise B: Tensing Your Toes

For this exercise lie on your back and close your eyes, then:

1. Focus your attention on your toes and how they feel!
2. Flex your toes upwards towards your face and count slowly up to 10.
3. Relax your toes.
4. Count slowly up to 10 again.
5. Repeat steps 1-4, eight to ten times.

Exercise C: Guided Imagery

For this exercise, decide how long you are going to do it for – perhaps 5 or 10 minutes initially, or a bit longer if you wish and have time. Once you are in the comfortable room or setting and position that you have chosen for the exercise:

Shut your eyes and imagine yourself in a place or environment that you find enjoyable, doing something relaxing and pleasurable. This will vary depending on what you as an individual like. You could, for example, be by a lake or at the sea or in beautiful scenery or you could imagine yourself socialising with good friends or on a journey. Whatever situation you choose make sure it is a harmonious one and not connected with current activities or stresses. The exercise should take you into a relaxing world.

Once you are in that relaxing world, try to imagine it in as much detail as you can – what sounds can you hear, what sensations are you experiencing in your body, who or what else is there, what is happening between yourself and others or the environment?

After the time period you allowed for the session, open your eyes and resume your normal activities.

It there is a particular calm preparatory routine (e.g. putting on particular clothing, having a drink of water or lighting an incense candle) which you can establish and repeat so that you associate it with doing whichever relaxation exercise(s) you choose, then this can also help to engender the relaxation – however, avoid ingesting substances which might alter your mood or create health risks as part of the routine, except under medical advice, as these may have detrimental effects (for example, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco or other drugs).

© David Bonham-Carter 2007

By: David Bonham-Carter
David Bonham-Carter is an international life coach and stress consultant with over 15 years experience in the field of personal change management who has been featured on BBC radio giving expert life coaching advice.
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There is an old saying, "laughter is the best medicine". Why not treat yourself to some laughter? Visit our jokes index and relax with some jokes, humor and humerous anecdotes.

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Work is piling up. Your boss is on your back. Your co-worker is whistling 'Dixie,' and an unhappy client just sent you a nasty e-mail. You're feeling short tempered, anxious, and tense - and you're getting caught in a downward spiral of stress. At times, it becomes unbearable and the pressure has you feeling like you're going to explode!

Is it possible to de-stress in the workplace?

Alleviate tension, calm your mind and make your life easier through meditation. Shirley Cosson, from Seven Minute Meditation, believes, "Meditation will help you relax and rejuvenate, increase your energy, clear your thinking and improve your emotional stability. All you need is a strong desire to improve your life and a willingness to practice simple meditation."

Here's how you can take a few moments to meditate while you're at the office, or anytime you're feeling stressed:

Find a place to sit comfortably. Let your body relax. Take a deep breath in. As you exhale, say to yourself, "I am calm, serene and relaxed." Repeat this mantra a few times. Let the chatter in your mind gradually fade away, and feel yourself entering a relaxed state. Let each body part release any tension; relax your toes, ankles, knees, hips, stomach, elbows, shoulders, chest, throat, wrists, finger tips, lips, eyes. Enjoy the feeling for a few minutes.

Thank yourself for taking a break and slowly return to being alert to your environment.

When you meditate, your brain waves move to a calmer, happier place.

The personal advantages of meditation are endless. Inner peace, mental calmness and relaxation all happen through meditation. Difficult situations will become easier to deal with.

You're "calm, serene and relaxed."

Inner Peace.

By: Anna Goldstein
http://selfinthecity.com/sc/home.aspx is an online lifestyle magazine to live a hip, healthy and balanced life. Get all the tips you need to "Live Joyously." Sign up for your free weekly quick tips e-mail.

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There is an old saying, "laughter is the best medicine". Why not treat yourself to some laughter? Visit our jokes index and relax with some jokes, humor and humerous anecdotes.

Comments: For those of you that would like to comment on this or any other post in this blog, go to the Contact me link on the upper right hand side of this page and send your comment via that link. If your comment is on topic, whether pro or anti, and even fairly well written, we will post it with the article. If you have a site that you would like to be linked to your comment please supply it and we will include it.