Stress is a part of everybody's life, whether they like it or not. Managing it is something that is absolutely crucial to learn. If stress management is not mastered, then you and those around you suffer, and live under the illusion that there is way more stress in your life than other peoples'. I'm living proof of that.
             That stress level test taught me a thing or two about whining. I scored average on it, thinking I would go way over the extreme stress mark. I think the problem is that I have been too lazy and unmodivated (is that a word?) to think of ways to manage it. I think that meditation would be a great way, but everytime I close my eyes for twenty seconds, Sid starts whining, or the phone rings,. or I start to concentrate, instead of on a sandy beach at sunset, on the majestic Mt. Laundry in my room or about the Consumers bill that was due yesterday.
             I think that these days, stress is one of the biggest focal points in most aspects of life-- how to avoid it, how to manage it, what's good, what's bad. Personally I think its all bad, but that's just me.
             I guess that stress has helped me somewhat. If I hadn't been stressed out last year when I was four months pregnant, I wouldn't have decided to start school in the fall, I wouldn't have moved into my own place and gotten a job, and I would probably be insane right now. Beneath the surface, everybody is miserable and the color of stress. At least, I think so.
             I do agree that stress does a number on one's body. In strict confidence, I find that when I am extremely stressed out, I feel like drinking like 600 gallons of whiskey, or I smoke a lot more, and I eat food--bad food, all day. Also, I have a harder time getting out of bed in the morning, and at any time in the day, I could fall asleep, right then and there.
             Stress management is a skill that everyb ody should have. I think it is possible for somebody to go crazy from too much stress. Some ...