COPYRIGHT

      Published by HarperCollinsPublishers

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      Published by Thorsons 1996

      © Vera Peiffer 1996

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

      Vera Peiffer asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

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      Source ISBN: 9780007273188

      Ebook Edition © AUGUST 2014 ISBN: 9780008110420

      Version: 2014-08-18

DEDICATION

      FOR MY FRIENDS GEORGES AND LYN

       CONTENTS

       Cover

       Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Introduction

PART I STRESS – HOW IT HAPPENS

1 What Stress Is and What It Is Not

2 Are You a Stress-prone Type?

3 Questionnaire: Check Your Personality Stress Factors

4 What Is Causing You Stress?

PART II WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FALL INTO THE STRESS TRAP …

5 Physical Reactions

       6 Mental and Emotional Reactions

       7 Behavioural Reactions

       8 Questionnaire: What Is Your Stress Level?

       PART III … AND HOW TO CLIMB OUT OF THE STRESS TRAP

       9 How To Stop Yourself from Overworking

      10 So You Thought You Knew How to Breathe …

      11 Giving Your Body Time Off

      12 Taking a Mental Holiday

      13 Sleeping Better

      14 Dealing with Difficult People

      15 Using Anger Constructively

      16 How to Talk about Things You Would Rather Avoid

      17 Accentuate the Positive

      18 De-stress Your Life

      19 Alternative Ways to Unwind

       Summary

       Keep Reading

       Acknowledgements

       Also by the Author

       Also in the Series

       About the Publisher

INTRODUCTION

      Anyone who has ever had to struggle through a prolonged period of work overload, be it at home or out in the workplace, will know what it feels like to be physically exhausted and mentally overwrought. Whereas you are perfectly capable of dealing competently with life’s ups and downs when you are unstressed, any hiccups in the daily routine become an emotional crisis once the pressure exceeds a certain threshold.

      It is an unpleasant experience to feel out of control