In order to manage stress effectively, you first must learn to identify the various sources of it in your daily life.

The following is an outline of the different types of stress you may encounter throughout your day and positive coping strategies to help manage them:

1. Mental

Bad- Excessive worrying, negative thinking, information overload, verbal abuse, over analyzing problems, overly self critical, underestimating your skills, lack of sleep.

Good- Positive thoughts, learning to quiet the mind, having dreams and setting goals, being assertive, taking time to read more, set limits on work, self confidence, faith in your abilities, laughing.

2. Physical

Bad- Excessive exercise, lack of exercise, excessive and/or unsafe sex, poor posture, abusive relationship, poor digestion, lack of sleep.

Good- Balanced exercise program, making love, deep breathing, good posture, regular bowel movements.

3. Nutrition

Bad- Processed junk food, excessive alcohol, sugar, restrictive dieting, flavour enhancers, food additives, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, eating on the run, refined salt, excessive caffeine, overeating, bad fats, dehydration, food allergies.

Good- Organic whole food, quality nutritional supplements, fresh water, mindful eating, sea salt, chewing food thoroughly, good fats, lean protein, vegetables and fruits.

4. Electromagnetic

Bad- Electromagnetic pollution from computers, cell phones, cell phone towers, microwave ovens, television set, electric blankets, power lines, over exposure to UV rays from sunlight, x-rays.

Good- Moderate sun bathing, contact with earth's magnetic field, negative ions.

5. Thermal

Bad- Extreme temperature fluctuations (hot or cold), frostbite, sun burn.

Good- Maintaining a constant body temperature as close to normal as possible under any circumstance at 37°C (98.6°F).

6. Chemical

Bad- Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fossil fuel emissions, xenoestrogens, pharmaceutical drugs, recreational drugs, tobacco smoke, hair dyes, cleaning products.

Good- Influencing your powerful internal biochemistry with whole foods, balanced exercise, fulfilling relationships, proper sleep, positive outlook on life.

Nutritional Supplements for Stress

The following supplements may help to minimize the impact of stress and better enable you to handle it when it's unavoidable:

Vitamin C- This vitamin is essential to adrenal glands and immune system function in times of stress.

Suggested use: 1000 mg per day.

Rhodiola- This herbal extract from the arctic region works as an adaptogen, helping the body to cope with stress.

Suggested use: 150-300 mg per day.

Holy Basil- This herb native to India is much revered in Ayurvedic medicine.  It is thought to improve the stress response in individuals by helping to control excessive cortisol.

Suggested use: 400-800 mg per day.

L-Theanine- This amino acid is a constituent of green tea and helps the brain produce the calming neurotransmitter called Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Suggested use: 200-600 mg per day.

Passionflower- Native to North America this plant is an old folk remedy for anxiety and nervousness.

Suggested use: Dosage varies (tea, capsule, tincture).

The first physician to chart the human stress response, Dr. Hans Selye believed that a certain amount of stress is necessary to our survival and that if managed properly, can actually enhance performance.

By understanding the effects of stress and applying some of the above-recommended guidelines, you can become as calm as a Zen monk in no time!