Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 1 May 2008 — Page 32

The Ni ud Times • May 1, 2008 • Page 33

continued from page 32 that stressful situations can lead to relapse among alcoholics. People who don’t have the resources— such as a social support network—to cope with stress are more likely to drink in response to a stressful situation. They use alcohol to help buffer the effects of the stressor. Alcohol’s Effects on Stress Some studies have found that alcohol itself can actually trigger the stress response. But other studies suggest that low levels of alcohol can reduce stress, tension, and anxiety. Moderate drinking has even been shown to improve your mood. So which is it? Does drinking help or exacerbate stress? Although low doses of alcohol have been shown to reduce stress, research has shown that alcohol induces some of the same physiologic effects as other stressors. Drinking alcohol interferes with sleep. It also numbs the emotions, impairing your ability to cope with stressful situations. Excessive drinking can lead to social isolation, anger, depression, and paranoia. Other Ways of

News Briefs

Dealing With Stress Alcohol is not a healthy way of dealing with stress. Drinking to deal with stress can interfere with work, relationships, finances, and lead to more problems, like alcoholism and health complications. If you find yourself in a stressful situation, it is important to have coping strategies that don’t involve drinking. Symptoms of stress include feeling tired, having back pain, headaches, stomachaches, and having difficulty sleeping. To reduce or control the stress you are experiencing, the National Mental Health Association recommends the following strategies: • Learn to say no. If you are overwhelmed with responsibilities, make a point not to take on more than you can handle. • Meditate. Take 10-20 minutes each day to quietly reflect. Listen to music, relax, and clear your mind of stress. • Take one thing at a time. If your workload seems unbearable, pick one urgent task at a time Xo work on. When you finish that task, choose i i'j : " - :'H';

another. • Exercise and eat healthfully. Get 20-30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week and focus on eating a healthful diet. Limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol, both of which can interfere with your sleep. • Share your feelings. Talk to a friend, family member, or healthcare professional about what is causing your stress. A friend or family member’s love, support, and guidance can help you through a stressful situation, and a professional is trained to assess levels of stress and recommend coping strategies. • Learn to breathe. When stressed we frequently forget how to breathe properly. Our breaths become rapid and shallow. Learning a few breathing techniques might become a useful tool in combating stress. In addition you may consider taking a good quality supplement. A supplement with vitamin B complex and magnesium may help to offset the effects of chronic stress on your health. If you’re feeling stressed, it may help to talk with your doctor, who can refer you to a

psychiatrist, psycholo gist, social worker, or other qualified counselor for professional help. But don’t wait until things feel “out of control.” By that time, you may no longer know that you need help. Bipartisan Agreement on Housing Bill Homeowner tax credits and a bigger role in the mortgage market for the Lederal Housing Administration are among the items in a U.S. Senate housing bill agreed in principle by Democrats and Republicans, Senate leaders said on Wednesday. Lawmakers were trying to finish a draft bill that could also provide a tax break to home builders and make billions of additional dollars available to help struggling homeowners refinance their mortgages, Senate aides said. "This package addresses the core issues of this crisis, including foreclosure mitigation, mortgage counseling, FHA modernization and homeowner tax credits, among other provisions," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky ■o'oyj ‘jh : c!

Republican. Congress is under pressure to help homeowners hit by a widening mortgage crisis and its fallout, including a wave of foreclosures and a global credit squeeze, which appear to be dragging the U.S. economy into a recession. Once a bill is unveiled, it is expected to go to the Senate floor for debate and amendments, with a possible final vote by Congress' upper chamber at the end of the week. If adopted, the bill would then go to the House of Representatives. The draft Senate bill was expected to include a tax credit to buyers of homes in or near foreclosure, although this item might be pared down from the $15,000, three-year credit originally proposed by Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican, a mortgage industry Since late last year, senior lawmakers have tried to hammer out new Federal Housing Administration standards. One contentious question was how large a loan the federal agency could finance and how much of a stake borrowers would be expected to offer as a down pay-