ABC's of Stress
	The ABC’S of Stress Signs and Symptoms A Anxiety, apprehension, addiction, arguments, apathy, abuse B Boredom, back-biting, backache, blues, blahs C Colds, canker sores, claustrophobia, compulsiveness, crying spells, cynicism, claming up, conflict confusion D Drinking, drugs, depression, diarrhea, divorce, distrust, defensiveness E Edginess, emptiness, explosive temper, excuses, evasiveness, exhausted F Fear, forgetfulness, flu, fatigue, frustration, flushed face G Guilt, gas, grudges, gambling addictions, grief, griping, grouchy H Hopelessness, heart attack, high blood pressure, headaches, hurried I Indigestion, insomnia, irritability, irrational thoughts, indecision, intolerance J Judgmental stance, joylessness, jitters, juggling various tasks K Know-it-all attitude, knots in stomach or back, keyed up, knee-jerk reactions L Loneliness, lowered libido, lethargy, lashing out, lack of concentration M Muscle twitches, martyrdom, mood swings, marital conflict, melancholy N Nagging, negative attitude, nightmares, nervousness, needing to prove something O Ornery, out of touch, out of control, obligated, over-extended, overeater, overweight, overbearing, overachiever, oppositional, obsessive-compulsive P Panic, pounding heart, put-downs, poor judgment, pushing too hard, preoccupied Q Quiet, quick to take offense, questioning, queasy stomach, quivers, quarrelsome, qualms, quagmires of problems, quick-tempered R Rudeness, rash behavior, resentment, righteous indignation S Sulking, stewing, spiritual void, self-recriminations, stomach complaints, sleeplessness T Temper tantrums, too much to do, tension, trouble setting priorities U Unhappiness, unforgiving spirit, uncertainty, unproductive approach to work, unrealistic expectations, ulcers V Volatile, vague aches & pains, values confusion, vacillating, vertigo, violence W Weight gain/loss, whirling mind, worrying, wasting time, wallowing in self-pity X X-tra pounds, x-travagant living, x-cessive debts, x-cessess in many areas Y Yelling, yawns, "yeah-buts," yowling, yearning for yesterday Z Zillions of things undone, zero energy, zero tolerance The ABC’s of Stress Management A Affirmations, assertiveness, acceptance, active, accomplishments, admits mistakes B Balancing roles & tasks, boundaries, bio-feedback (listen to your body) C Conflict resolution, commitment, confession, concern for self & others D Diversions, daydreaming, determination, dancing, doing it now E Exercise, expressing love & affection, examining priorities, enthusiasm F Faith, flexibility, fun, friendships, family, forgiveness, finding alternatives G God, getaways, goal-setting, give-and-take, grace under fire, guidance from others H Humor, hugs, healthy eating habits, healthy lifestyle, hobbies, home management I Imagination, individuality, information, insight, implements plans, intimacy J Joy, jogging, jazz, judicious decisions, joining organizations K Know yourself, keeping promises, knowledge, kisses, kneading dough, knitting L Listening, limits, learning, loving, labors of love, laughter, laid-back attitude M Meditation, music, money management, marital harmony, moderation N Networking, nutrition, nurturing self, nicotine-free, noticing progress, "no" O Openness to change, organization, objectivity, observant, opportunities taken P Prayer, praise, priorities, physical fitness, problem-solving, proper perspective Q Quiet time, quit when necessary, quick-witted, quality vs quantity, quilting R Rest, reading, relaxing, respect for self & others, rich relationships, realistic S Spirituality, surrender, sharing, support, seek help, soul-searching, smiling T Teamwork, togetherness, trust, touch, time management, taking charge of own problems U Utilizing unique talents, unity of purpose, utilizes available resources V Values self & others, versatility, visualization, values clarified, volunteers, vacations W Worship, wisdom, working smarter, weight management, waits patiently, walking X X-citement, x-celling, x-change of ideas, x-cursions, x-hilarated Y You, yawn, "yes" management, young-at-heart, yesterdays left in the past Z Zest for life, zero procrastination, zing, zip, zeal   Courtesy of: Family Advocacy Outreach Manager Bolling Air Force Base, DC

Last updated on 08 February 2001.