Life is a stressful game --- one that you have no option but to play till the end. However, like all games, players will inevitably have a moment or two of frustration at how the cards have been dealt. People grow frustrated with the rules and regulations of the game, as well as having a sense of indignation at how some people are able to ?bend? the rules while others are incapable of doing so. These instances of stress and anxiety can really get to people though there are several ways to help alleviate the problem. Some people are able to react well or have the ability to cope with the stress and anxiety of modern life, with all the trials and tribulations that playing the game entails. However, some people cannot deal with stress and anxiety, eventually making that person's mind open ground for a number of mental disorders.

However, for the average person, getting away from the stress and anxiety is better than embracing it and going insane. Just taking some time to ?get away from it all? is practically required, with all the pressure and stress that the modern world puts on people. There are several ways to go about this, with no two options having exactly the same parameters. Indeed, there are some who might argue that stress relief methods that work for one person may only serve to compound stress in another person. However, some unofficial studies have found that, among the general population, there are several common methods that people use as stress relief. Drinking and smoking are among the most commonly used means of handling stress. Yet both vices are also potentially harmful due to the habit-forming effects of nicotine and alcohol. Alcohol is rapidly metabolized by the body and can impair judgment fairly quickly. In large quantities, it may also cause damage to a person's liver. Smoking poses even more long-term health risks, in the form of lung cancer and various other respiratory problems.

Music, particularly classical or symphonic music, has also been known to be an effective form of stress relief. Psychiatrists believe that classical music is at a much higher standard compared to most contemporary music. The melodies are known to have several beneficial effects on the human psyche, from soothing feelings of anxiety and tension to helping stimulate some areas of the brain. While there are some samples of more modern compositions that can achieve similar effects, most studies show that there is a lack of consistency to this. Popular myth holds that Mozart's compositions tend to be the best stress relief music, with Bach and Vivaldi also having similar effects, albeit at lesser degrees.

Some combat veterans have found that violent video games can also serve as stress relief. Studies have shown that the games can help relieve not only the stress that compounds on a person daily, these games can also act as a front line treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. The reasons for this are still not yet fully understood, but the tests results are only confirming what hardcore gamers have been proclaiming for years. The games used for the tests vary, though the cited examples tend to revolve around the latest crop of violent first-person shooters, such as ?Unreal Championship? and ?Halo 3.?

Nature is also cited as being an excellent way to relieve stress. There are several scenes and facets of nature that are highly relaxing, with the babbling brook approaching the status of a stereotype from the sheer number of references to it. Other scenes from nature known to have a relaxant effect are the Grand Canyon, the Matterhorn, and pristine beaches. For some people, just pictures or the sound alone can help, but for others, the relief from stress comes from actually being there. Going to these places provide a well-deserved reprieve from the countless trials and tribulations one encounters when playing the game.