While it is neither advisable or possible to eliminate stress completely, since stress is useful in helping to increase performance or to create caution in the face of danger, it is necessary for each person to find their ideal stress level.

You can use manipulation to avoid excessively stressful situations by eliminating stressors or changing how you react to stressful events.

If going to the dentist is a stressful situation for you, you can make your appointment for early in the morning so that you don’t have to worry all day about going. Using the same discipline that you use each day to brush your teeth, you can make yourself get your teeth cleaned twice a year and that regular cleaning makes the cleaning process less painful.

Instead of fearing the pain or fearing that you might have a need for some additional work, focus on how good your teeth will feel and look after they have been cleaned. By focusing on the positive aspect of the dentist visit, you change your reaction to the stress and thereby reduce the stress. If nothing else, if you go get your teeth cleaned then you won’t have to do it again for 6 months.

Scheduling events is a way to cope with stress.

When you finish your dentist appointment, right then and there schedule the next one if possible. Write the day and time on your calendar. You just avoided the stress of having to make an appointment to do something you don’t like. Try to schedule your yearly physical for the same day just later in the day so that you don’t have to rush trying to make the trip to the next office.

Now you can arrange to take the entire day off work and perhaps treat yourself to a nice sit down lunch before you see the doctor. You have two stressful events taken care of before they even happen. A nice treat of lunch or dinner adds a good thing to the day.

Avoid the stress of adding anything else to that day. Say no to all requests for your time. Do not allow other people to manipulate you into saying yes to their request or demand thereby causing you to give up your special lunch or causing you to have to rush from place to place.

Make your own request to others to help you. Someone else can pick up the children from school. You are now free to look forward to that day and the special treats. You have changed two stressful events into a not so bad day.

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