The first step in managing stress is to recognize it

We all experience stress. It’s the body’s natural reaction to tension, pressure, and change. A certain amount of stress can be good for us, but too much stress can be bad for us — both physically and mentally. Prolonged, unrelieved stress can lead to accidental injury and severe illness.

I will readily admit I can do a better job of managing stress. I think about one of my favorite quotes a lot.

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. — Jim Rohn

In the modern era, we experience stress so often that we may not even recognize the signs of it. Here are the typical signs of stress:

• Headaches
• Upset stomach
• Feeling of being “uptight”
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Diarrhea
• Lack of energy
• Loss of hope
• Poor concentration
• Overeating or skipping meals
• Frequent colds
• Panic attacks
• Anger
• Feeling of powerlessness
• Forgetfulness
• Indigestion
• Muscle tension or soreness