Another way to look at stress is a feeling of being out of control of your immediate environment. When you feel as if there is little you can do to change a difficult situation at work your body experiences this as negative stress. It begins pumping steroidal messages to all your body's systems to prepare you for fight or flight. Taking control of the situation by running out of the room or punching your boss in the jaw, which is what your body expects you to do, would probably put you out of a job. This in it's self, becomes another huge stressor. You feel trapped between two stressors, neither of which can be changed in any positive way by either fight or flight, and your body keeps trying to get you to act like a jackrabbit or Rambo. Ongoing feelings of being out of control and powerless can lead to depression. Long- term stress can also break down the body areas involved, such as, cardiovascular and immune systems leading to physical illness. Below are some alternative ways to begin feeling in control of your own everyday stressful situations.

Change your viewpoint of the situation. Instead of picturing yourself as a pawn in your boss's chess game, picture yourself as your boss's boss. What does that person see in this situation? As you mentally alter your viewpoint, you can often watch your physical stress reactions abate. You may also end up with a great idea for how to solve the dilemma.

Focus on any small part of the situation, upon which you can have an effect, and take positive action. After you have taken that first step, the entire situation may appear more manageable to you. Taking action helps the body know it is not powerless. You might choose to continue positive action until others notice it as well, thereby further reducing your environmental stress.

Consciously control one of the body's systems and the others will follow. For instance, focus on slowing your heart rate along with your breathing. Biofeedback is the easiest way to learn this technique. Or you can begin by holding your pulse point and counting just a little bit slower than your heart is beating while breathing deep and slow. Notice as your pulse adjusts itself to your counting.

Imagine yourself in a safe and supportive environment. Your body does not differentiate between real and imagined situations. You can pretend to be in a hammock between palm trees in the Caribbean, swinging slowly in the breeze. Your body's systems will begin to adjust accordingly. You may have to imagine your vacation story with your eyes closed, so you might want to be alone somewhere, where you won't be disturbed. After you are calm, you can slowly emerge and approach the situation with a relaxed body and a clear mind. The more you practice this exercise, the easier it becomes. Try it right now! "The sky is blue overhead, I am in my hammock..."

Try any one of these suggestions and watch your own stress level go down.