There are so many things in your life that can cause you stress. Once you begin letting this stress consume you, it will continue to pile up until you feel like you can't even see straight. The important thing is to remember to remain calm and try to take all of life's challenges in stride. Deal with each situation individually and then put it aside. You will feel more victorious if you are able to battle things head on, and not become nervous over life's little problems.

Before moving on lets get on the same page and define what exactly is stress/anxiety.

Stress is the body's response to any demand or pressure. These demands are called stressors. Stressors include major life events, such as a divorce or the birth of a child. They also include chronic strains that last over a period of time, such as living on unemployment. And stressors include daily or occasional strains, like taking care of a sick child. In a nutshell, stress can mean different things to different people. Traffic jams, deadlines, eating on the run, bills to pay, job changes, endless chores and errands, and demands, demands, demands.

Whatever the stressor is, it requires the body to make physical and chemical adjustments in order to maintain the necessary physiological balance for survival. A racing heart, a burst of energy, insomnia and muscle tension are the body's physical responses to demands.

The brain is such a funny thing. It is the epicenter of pretty much everything, controlling body functions, movements and of course emotions and personality. But sometimes there can be glitches, and the overworked brain may malfunction from time to time. When emotions are not kept into check, they can become magnified, and may cause problems. Nervousness and worry are two of those elements that can be a problem if they are not carefully monitored. What happens as a result is that they turn into full blown anxiety.

When the problems become bigger, it does get increasingly difficult to handle. But, if you do not want to feel the effects of full blown anxiety, keep your composure and work through all that bothers you. If you give in to the nervous feelings, then not only will you feel anxiety, but eventually you could suffer from other things like depression. It is essential to stay focused and to keep your cool. Nipping the problems in the bud before they get out of hand is key to keeping anxiety at bay.

The Benefits of Taking Breathers - 10 Golden Rules To Live By - Doing nothing actually does a lot - it recharges your batteries so you approach your next task with new perspective. What are some easy ways to take a breather?

1. Try yoga
2. Exercise
3. Relax your facial muscles
4. Get a manicure and pedicure
5. Unplug from your cell phone, IM, computer, home phone, email
6. Laugh - rent a good comedy film or read jokes
7. Meditate
8. Take a hot, relaxing bath
9. Take a long walk - getting fresh air lifts your spirit
10. Have a positive attitude

You cannot keep your sanity unless you give yourself a mental break. In fact, medical professionals actually recommend respite and recreation in order to keep a well-balanced life. Maintaining a hobby or creating fun mental diversions will certainly help you to keep your sanity quite often. Happiness is one of anxiety's many enemies. If you do not want to fall prey to extreme worry, think positive.

Do yourself a favor and take it easy. Clear out all of the mental clutter that is preventing you from being truly at ease and rejuvenated. The less your brain has to work on fixing anxiety and stress, the more it can focus on what makes you feel good, inside and out.