Resources You Can Use Now

STEP ONE IN CONTROLLING STRESS:
TAKE A BEHAVIOR INVENTORY

As you think about managing stress in your life, it will be helpful to become aware of those behaviors that can either promote or reduce your ability to cope with problems in day-to-day living. Listed below are behaviors that can either support or threaten your recovery process. Read each category and check the behaviors and personality traits that remind you of you.

SELF-DEFEATING
BEHAVIORS

Feelings of inferiority
Negative self-concept
Fear of failure
Fear of groups
Underachievement
Prejudice
Perfectionism
Dependancy
Lack of motivation
Excessive overweight
Sedentary lifestyle
Comparing self to others
Compulsive behavior:
---compulsive lying
---compulsive sexual behavior
---compulsive eating
Putting things off
Boredom
Feelings of hatred
Excessive worry
Inability to finish tasks
Psychosomatic illness
Feelings of loneliness
Fear of death
Fear of unknown
Avoidance
Blaming others
Focusing on what others do




 LIFE-AFFIRMING
BEHAVIORS

Eat a good breakfast
Eat three good meals daily
No snacking on junk food
Exercise regularly
Get 7-8 hours of sleep nightly
Keep your weight down
Don't smoke
Learn to deal with stressful situations
Avoid unproductive stress
Take responsibility for happiness
Pay attention to feelings
Be honest about wants and needs
Decide priorities
Clarify goals and work towards them
Do one thing at a time and finish it
Explore new approaches
Listen intently
Accept others as they are
Witness without judging
Focus on what you do
Manage daily chores efficiently
Think positive
Let go of disappointment
Deal directly with people involved
Follow through
Develop a spirituality
Try to carry your own load
Be aware of the effects of what you do

SCORE YOURSELF: Examine the statements you have checked in both categories. Everyone will have items checked in both categories, but look to see if your checked statements are weighted evenly between the categories, or toward one or another of the categories. The goal here isn't to eliminate all self-destructive behaviors tomorrow while simultaneously adopting all the life- affirming behaviors you haven't checked off. Instead, the goal is to take a look at trends in your behavior and, as one element of a thorough self- inventory, take a step away from self-destruction and toward life-affirmation.