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Stress is the “wear and tear” our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment. Stress has both physical and emotional effects that can be either positive or negative. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of anxiety, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, and insomnia. With any life change (positive or negative), we experience stress as we readjust our lives. In so adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it. The goal of effective treatment is not to eliminate stress, but to better manage it.