How much of your feeling of stress is based off of your current situations, and how much is based off of your past situations? You probably know what I mean by that, but the answer is not always clear when you're in the middle of it.

It's common sense that managing and reducing stress can prevent many problems. Problems with general health, potential addiction, and more. Preventing these problems with stress management methods is much less costly and more comfortable than dealing with the results.

You know you would not choose to have trouble sleeping well or problems with your blood pressure. But, choosing to ignore your stress level is almost like that.

People with stress problems often look to avoid the discomfort by looking for pleasure or distraction. Things like watching TV, movies, using medications, food, smoking or other addictions.

Many people think medication is the only alternative, and try to avoid that. If there were a simple, clinically studied and proven method to relieve stress, would you use it?

Of course you would, if it really works.

Like most people, you have probably watched TV or a movie to help you relax. Does it help? Yeah. It gives you a distraction. Something else to focus on and think about, right? But there really isn't much "thinking" going on... it just indirectly creates a more quiet state of mind - for a while.

People get this state of mind with creative visualization, breathing exercises, yoga, meditation and deep prayer.

All ways to create the mental state technically known as hypnosis. Very little practice will let anyone easily and quickly achieve this nice state of mind. The same state you sometimes get while reading a book or talking on the phone.

You actually go into a light state of hypnosis several times a day anyway. And to do it on purpose, with the intention of relieving stress, is quick and proven effective.

I'm a hypnotist, so what do you expect me to say, right? The National Library of Medicine has a site, ww.pubmed.gov where you can search for medical studies on hypnosis and stress. Please remember, these are trained doctors doing hypnosis, not trained hypnotists. The results can be even better than they find.

Physical and mental stress reduction is possible in just a few short minutes.

Using an appropriately trained hypnotist or using a quality self-hypnosis audio to reduce general stress are great alternatives. Hypnosis has a higher rate of long-term success than medication and hypnosis has zero side-effects.

Note: Even though hypnosis has been an approved by the American Medical Association since 1958, it does not replace conventional medicine.