BOXFORD, Mass., April 17, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- In response to rumors that national adrenalin levels are at an all-time high as the result of stock market turndowns combined with the annual IRS assault on America's wallets, Dr. Rita H. Losee, nationally known personal development and achievement expert, suggests that Americans use this week to give themselves a stress break.
"The statistics about stress in this country are appalling," said Losee, CEO - Chief Enthusiasm Officer -- of Total Success! a company whose mission is to help individuals and organizations expand their vision, accelerate their growth, achieve their goal, and love their lives. "According to the American Institute of Stress, 75 to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are related to stress. We know that stress aggravates heart conditions, depresses immune system functioning and destroys relationships, and although it's literally killing us, most of us accept our high stress levels as normal.
"We Americans are big on managing things -- we try to manage relationships, time, stress, money, other people. We're doomed!," Losee continued. "'Managing' something implies controlling it. As far as I can see, the only thing that we have any hope at all of managing is our own reactions. We can only manage ourselves and that means managing our own internal dialogue. To treat IRS Syndrome, I challenge all Americans for the next week to give up trying to control anything, or anybody, except themselves."
To help people recover from IRS syndrome, Losee has created a contest. The person who submits the funniest IRS/taxes/accountant story to her at ritalosee@myexcel.com by April 26, 2001 (deadline: midnight - or earlier if she is sleepy) will receive a free month of Total Success! coaching. Winner will be chosen arbitrarily and subjectively based on whatever tickles Losee's funny bone.
Losee, who as a fat teenager thought she was too stupid to go to college, has learned to manage herself. As a result she has earned a doctorate in counseling, has written four books, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, completed the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon (12 hours, 45 minutes, 27 seconds), and been a proficient rock climber -- the ultimate venue for learning to relax. In 2000, at the age of 58, she through-hiked the 2,167-mile Appalachian Trail by herself.
Ten Tips for Self-Management of Stress
1. Observe yourself; notice how your body reacts to "stress." In particular, notice what you say to yourself when you are stressed.
2. Decide that you can choose another reaction. Fretting about the size of the check that went to the IRS? Decide to be grateful that you didn't have to ante up over $8 million like Dick Cheney.
3. The radio station in your brain broadcasts on either WSAD or WJOY. Whenever you start hearing WSAD, deliberately switch to WJOY -- (www.heartmath.org is a great resource for learning how to dial your thoughts to WJOY).
4. Go for a walk, run, or ride your bike. Exercise is a great way to release the biochemical trash that stress leaves in your body.
5. Smile at everyone you meet. Smiling changes brain chemistry to produce "feel good" drugs. It doesn't matter what other people think - you're only managing yourself this week. You don't have to be responsible fortheir reactions.
6. Spend some time outdoors, not doing chores, but simply listening to the birds or observing the flowers.
7. Find something to laugh about. If Norman Cousins could recover from a terminal illness with laughter, you can relieve IRS syndrome with it.
8. Resolve not to get angry about anything. Ask yourself, "Is this worth my wreaking havoc on my immune system?" Obviously, nothing is.
9. Deep breathe: deep breathing automatically cuts through the stress response. When you're stopped in traffic, take several deep breaths. When you are on hold, take several deep breaths. When you think about the IRS check, take a few more deep breaths.
10. Stretch. Stress causes muscles to get tight and sore which causes more tension. Stretching in the manner of a cat who has just awakened from a nap, releases the tension and feels great.
11. Keep in mind: joyous satisfying lives are created one day at a time. Momentous lives are created one moment at a time. Endeavor to make each moment one of joy.
Experience is mandatory: stress is optional.
Dr. Rita H. Losee P.O. Box 163 Boxford, MA 01921 978-887-0952 ritalosee@myexcel.com
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CONTACT: Total Success!, Boxford
Dr. Rita H. Losee, CEO
978-887-0952