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Chang, L. (2011, December 27). //Tips to reduce stress and sleep better//. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tips-reduce-stress

1.) Stress affects us emotionally, physically, and behaviorally. 2.) The right amount of stress can be a positive force that helps us to do our best and to keep alert and energetic. 3.) Too much stress can make us tense, anxious, and can cause sleep problems. 4.) High levels of unwanted stress can damage your health and sense of well-being. 5.) 8 hours of sleep can decrease your stress by more than 45%. 6.) A healthy diet, low in sugar, caffeine, and alcohol consumption, can promote health and reduce stress. 7.) Common signs of stress include depression, sleep problems, tension, anxiety, work mistakes, poor concentration, and apathy, among many others. 8.) Exercise can help you blow off steam thereby reducing stress. 9.) Spending time with family and friends is an important buffer against stress. It can be helpful to share your problems with people who care for you. 10.) Laughing a lot with family and friends can not only make you live longer, it can get your mind of things which will decrease stress. 11.) Adequate sleep is crucial to proper brain function. 12.) At the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting in June 2001, Eve Van Cauter, Ph.D., reported that people who regularly do not get enough sleep can become less sensitive to insulin. This increases their risk for diabetes and high blood pressure – both serious threats to the brain. 13.) More extensive problems including anxiety disorders and depression can likewise disrupt our sleep. 14.) Acute stressors -- a death in the family, a big test tomorrow, a lost job -- can undermine our ability to sleep and cause insomnia. 15.) Coping mechanisms that work for us: talking to friends and family, seeking other social support through clubs or churches, pursuing activities you enjoy, and exercising is a good way to get rid of stress. 