With these reactions, and many more unhealthy and traumatic results on your daily life, stress is indeed an enemy to battle. I suggest that you battle it on two main fronts: the Pre-stress Front and the Post-Stress Front. First, take steps to avoid stress as much as possible. Then, learn to recognize stress when it happens and to minimize its effect on your body.

Balance is a key word in reducing stress. Spend healthy amounts of time relaxing and sleeping as well as working and exercising. If you work or live in a stressful situation, spend as much time as possible in a peaceful environment to balance out the load. Just as your body needs balance in nutrition, body pH, water intake, exercise, and body system functions, so your mind and emotions need balance in exercise and rest, activity and relaxation, and social time and private time. Make plans to see to your own personal needs as well as to fulfill your obligations to others. If you don't take care of yourself, you soon won't be able to take care of anyone else.

Don't forget one of the best stress-busters – laughter. I'll never forget that when I was a Home Economics teacher, one of my students invented a recipe, which erroneously listed "1 cup of chicken breath" as a key ingredient. I first read the recipe at 2:00 AM and burst into hysterical laughter. I shared his chicken breath recipe with the other teachers, my students, and my family. To this day, I smile when I think of it.

Unfortunately, today's fast-track world leaves little opportunity for naturally occurring relaxation. We must be responsible to create those moments for ourselves. Don't let stress catch you unaware. Be ready to attack and defeat this ever-present enemy.