When I was a kid I used to read Readers Digest and one section I always think of was "Laughter is the best medicine". As I have gotten older I have come to realize that laughter may not be the best medicine but it sure is good medicine for what ails you. It's hard to be sad, depressed, stressed out or anxious when you are laughing. Laughter can sometimes even make you forget about physical pain.

Laughter may not actually cure stress, depression, anxiousness, sadness or pain but it can sure help decrease stress, lighten depression, ease anxiety, mitigate pain and lessen sadness. Many medical researchers say that people who laugh often live longer lives.

Laughing is not hard, in fact it's easy. Read some jokes, learn and tell some jokes, watch some comedy acts on television, go to a comedy club or have a friend tell you some jokes. Eventually you'll find some jokes, humor or satirical stories that will appeal to you and before you know it you will find yourself laughing.

When my wife gets depressed I read some jokes, learn them and then retell them to her. Pretty soon her mood starts to lighten and her depression either lessens or goes away all together. When I get sad or frustrated I start reading jokes and quickly I start to feel that whatever is making me sad or frustrated isn't so bad and my mood improves immensely.

Go ahead, read or listen to some jokes and turn on the laughter. You'll be surprised how much better you will feel.

Copyright 2008 The Joke Index

By: David G. Hallstrom, Sr.
This article was written for the Joke Index, a portal to blogs and websites dedicated to Funny jokes, humor, humorous anecdotes, satire and stories and first published in the Stress Management blog from Resources For Attorneys.

One of the best stress management tips is living your life purpose. As a stress management way of living it has to be at the top of the list.The idea of an ideal kept before the mind as a reason for living certainly has something magnetic about it. We are all here for a purpose and to accomplish a certain thing. I have heard the term "I am on a mission" used a few times. Have you ever met someone like that? These kinds of people are driven and know where they are going. I hope that before you finish this article you will have, if not already a life purpose, at least think about what your life purpose could be.

It brings you many stress management advantages to have a life purpose. One that is so obvious it is often overlooked is that you are going in the direction you want to go. Not a direction or goal someone else has for you. It is true that if you don't have a purpose for being here the you are still living a life of purpose. It is just a purpose that belongs to somebody else. An agenda or goal you may not agree on. So its always better to have your own purpose and life mission.

Everyone is different. For some a life purpose could be having a great family. For others it could be having great relationships. A successful career for someone else. Writing a number one bestselling book for another. It differs.One thing is for sure. A life purpose keeps your energy focused and clear. It has other advantages, listed as follows.

Another stress management advantage to living a life of purpose is that there seems to be more 'flow' and less stress in your life. People and resources just seem to be there when you need them. I'll give you an example. You want some work done and you need a person with a certain skill but you currently don't know anyone. Somewhere and somehow this person pops into your life. He has all the skills you need for the job to help you accomplish your task. You are living a life of purpose and many favorable conditions, associations ,and events come your way. Life is not so much struggle but more of a positive flow.

The amount of stress we experience and the degree of our problem solving ability are closely related. Life is full of problems. Some we solve with greater ease than others. The better you get at solving problems the better life gets. Living your purpose helps you tap into your intuition. This is a big help in problem solving. Sometimes logical left brain thinking is needed to fix a problem. Sometimes creative right brain thinking is needed. Intuitive insight is what you require sometimes to solve a major problem. Living life with a purpose gets you more in touch with your intuition.

A super stress management tool is to have your own life purpose. My experience has been that it allows you to enjoy better relationships, a more successful and creative career, and better conditions in society as the method of working is one of contribution and adding value. It is my wish that you enjoy the same.

By: Jim Cassa
Jim Cassa is an entrepreneur that has rapidly learned some of the most effective Stress Management Techniques available out of the need to cope! To learn the some surprisingly powerful ways to reduce and eliminate stress, Click on http://instantstressmanagement.blogspot.com

Anger management refers to the system of psychological techniques that help to manage uncontrollable anger and emotional reactions to unpleasant situations.

Learning to control your anger is not complicated once you apply a few basic principles and anger techniques. Just remember that it is much easier to learn to manage your anger than burying it deep down inside and not letting it out (so if you can bury it --- you can definitely control it!). We have some simple steps you should take to achieve your anger management goals.

Think about the following tips when you are angry and it may help you to deal with the situation more effectively.

" Learn to laugh at yourself - this can defuse a situation and can help you to get a grip on your emotions at the same time

" Don't take things personally - the world doesn't revolve around you!

" You can't control other people so don't even try.

" And along with that, you have to realize that you can't control your surroundings either - you can only control yourself and your own reactions.

Problem solving skills are useful to identify the problem and generate alternative solutions by considering the consequences of each solution and selecting an effective and appropriate response.

Other strategies include: " avoiding situations that make you angry " changing environments " focusing on something positive " engaging in substitute positive activities " and improving communication and social skills.

As mentioned above, humor can also be very useful, if it is constructive.

Just remember that expressing or releasing your anger is just as important as controlling it. Both skills are required, in balance, to keep you healthy.

By: Pierre Amyotte
To learn the simple secrets to controlling your anger, visit http://www.angermanagement.healthehelp.com where you'll find everything you need to know about anger self help, anger courses, and much more!

Anxiety

About half the children experiencing depression also experience anxiety. Anxiety is easy to overlook because a child may not talk about his fears, especially if he's an adolescent. Young children tend to be much more open and at ease in sharing their fears and worries.

Anxiety usually takes one of two forms:

1. A generalized anxiety disorder

2. Anxiety related to panic attacks.

Symptoms of generalized anxiety relate to feelings of restlessness, being on edge, being overwhelmed, having difficulty concentrating, and experiencing muscle tension or sleep disturbance. With generalized anxiety, there may be more fears, but they aren't as intense as when a panic attack is involved.

The most common forms of a panic attack in children relate to school phobia or separation anxiety when a child is asked to leave the physical proximity of a parent. Children in these situations may become so anxious that they throw up, have major temper tantrums, and act defiant, even if they're usually well behaved.

The Differences between Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety differs from depression in that an anxious child usually has more energy and doesn't have as much negative attitude toward life. Instead, the anxious child is afraid and has fears that impede his ability to meet the demands placed on him. Anxiety can have a negative impact on his ability to attend school, engage in social activities, and simply be able to relax.

While the anxious child may avoid participating in activities, he does so for a different reason than the depressed child. The anxious child tries to avoid dealing with situations that make his nervous. The depressed child avoids dealing with a situation because he lacks the energy and frustration tolerance to deal with it. The anxious child also experiences the stress of perceived negative events more intensely.

But there's one way in which anxiety and depression are similar. Threats regarding the negative consequences of a child's behavior almost never produce the desired results. Instead, they'll probably make the situation worse. Threatening an anxious child will only cause more anxiety and lead to an "Oh, on!" response. The depressed child may not react to the threat because he doesn't have the energy or motivation to care, which results in a "So what?" response.

By: Sally Chia
http://www.teen-depression-tips.com