Stress is a part of life. You can’t completely eliminate stress. All you can do is lessen it. There are ten known main stressors that can affect every one of us, particularly when we least expect them. These top ten stressors are, in no particular order: death in the family, illness, upcoming marriage, new baby, divorce, unemployment, change in financial status, moving to a new house or new place, career change and retirement.

When you are constantly under stress, you will experience its adverse effects on your health sooner or later. According to research, there is a strong link between stress and a number of physical illnesses such as colds, headaches, bowel problems, heart disease and high blood pressure.

You can fight stress in a number of simple ways. For instance, you can take long walks, take warm baths or listen to soothing music. However, if you find yourself in a serious situation, you may need to seek the help of a professional in order to help you fight stress and cope with the situation.

About 90% of all visits to the doctor are stress-related. Aside from its link to physical illnesses, stress has also been found to be linked to depression. Constant stress can lead to depression, which in turn can lead to insomnia (sleeplessness). Insomnia can prevent you from getting adequate rest, and prolonged insomnia can actually take its toll on your immune system. Pretty soon, your health will decline and you can become seriously ill. The lack of sleep can have adverse effects on your job performance as well as on the other important tasks or roles you perform on a daily basis. Your ability to take care of your child or provide care for another person can become severely affected. In such cases, your doctor may prescribe medication.

If you feel like you are experiencing too much stress and things are quickly getting out of hand, slow down and think of your health and your family. If you are taking medication for stress-related symptoms, keep in mind that drugs only work on eliminating the symptoms of your stress; they won’t get rid of your stress or even help you cope with your sources of stress.

Medication for stress is often given by doctors to patients as a last resort. You may want to look into natural and herbal remedies for stress. You can find these at most health food stores. A simple and natural stress remedy, according to Jennifer Urezzio, owner of Blooming Grove Herbal Remedies based in New Jersey, is rubbing lavender oil on the soles of your feet. The oil can help your body relax and it also promotes sleep.