Sign 2 that you’re stressed: You’re a woman? In one of the most comprehensive and longterm studies even done about stress in the United States, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University polled 2,000 adults in 1983, 2006, and 2009. Their results, published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, showed that women reported higher levels of stress than any other group, surpassing even low-income individuals. And over the 26-year span of the study, stress among all groups rose 10-30%. 10 Silent Signals You’re Stressed There’s a kernel of good news, though: As people aged, they reported less stress. “We know that stress contributes to poorer health practices, increased risk for disease, accelerated disease progression, and increased mortality,” says Sheldon Cohen, professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon and one of the study’s researchers. Head-To-Toe Stress Cures from Dr. Oz We’re no strangers to stress-relief tips. But you can only breathe deeply for so many ohms and gaze placidly at the ocean so many times. Other than deepening your breath (which, by the way, ) what else can you do to exorcise your anxiety? Try out these 3 weird tips suggested by experts—no heavy breathing required.

  1. Pop a probiotic, says Jason Tetro, a microbiologist at the University of Ottawa known as the “Germ Guy.” Why? “Symptoms of stress are partly due to the immune system,” he says. Sources of probiotics include yogurt, creamy kefir, or a supplement with at least 1 billion CFU (colony forming units.) How Aromatherapy Soothes Stress
  2. Screw in new light bulbs. High-wattage light can raise stress levels, trigger your appetite, and make you eat even faster than usual, according to research reviews. “Changing normal white lighting to blue-enriched lighting has been found to decrease fatigue in the evening, increase positive mood, diminish irritability, and improve sleep at night,” says Manhattan psychologist Dr. Joseph Cilona. 5 Tips To Stop Stress Eating
  3. Sing out loud. Belting out while bathing is one of the most fun ways to ease stress. In addition to melting stress, singing boosts your immune system, according to one German study. Even choral singers rate their quality of life higher than those of us without a tune. But if you’re more of the screaming-in-the-basement type, don’t hold back: blowing your stack once in a while is associated with a 50 percent reduction in heart-attack risk, according to a Harvard study. The Real-Life Stress Survival Guide