Blog Carnival: "Stress and..."

Here at About.com Health, we have many sites that bring informed, accessible information on all aspects of health, and a common thread runs through many of the topics: stress. Because stress is a part of many different conditions, and because stress relief is a result of many wellness-focused activities, I've hosted a blog carnival on the topic of stress, with blogs from several sites around About.com Health as main attractions. (If you're unfamiliar with the concept of blog carnivals, they consist of a host blog that links to blogs on a common theme from other bloggers; you can read more about it here.)

Without further ado, the following blogs can provide more information on stress and stress management, each from their own unique perspective.

Stressful Conditions

• Does Getting Sick Stress You Out?
  Colds may be common and relatively short-lived, but they can cause a lot of stress in the unexpected disruption they can cause in your life! Cold and Flu Guide Kristina Duda discusses some of the stressors that accompany the common cold and, more importantly, serves up some practical tips in minimizing those stressors when the flu or a cold take hold in her blog on stress and sickness. It's information all of us will probably use sometime.

• Stress and IBD
  Many people have wondered about the connection between stress and inflammatory bowel disease: does it exist? And if so, how are the two related? Fortunately, IBD Guide Amber J. Tresca can share some recent research on this topic, and supply you with resources that can help with IBD as well.

• Stress and Smoking Cessation
  Quitting smoking is a wonderful gift you can give yourself and your loved ones, as it has a huge payoff in terms of quality of life and longevity, (and the new year is a perfect time to do it--hint, hint). Smoking cessation brings relief from stress in the long run as you save money that would have gone to the purchase of cigarettes, and enjoy the health benefits you experience as well, but the process of quitting can be quite stressful, as anyone who has tried (or worked as a smoking cessation counselor) can tell you. Smoking Cessation Guide Terry Martin explains the stressors of quitting smoking, and provides resources on managing that (temporary) stress as you move through the process of quitting, in her blog on smoking cessation and stress. If you're a smoker, you'll be glad you read it.

• Talk About Stress... Did My Birth Control Fail (ugh!)
  For anyone who is using contraception, birth control failure is usually a huge stressor! Contraception Guide Dawn Stacey finds that this is a top stressor among her readers, and has two main strategies for managing the stress in this situation. (This is also an important reminder to be careful on New Year's Eve!) Visit her blog on the topic of stress and contraception failure if this is a stressor for you.

• Preventing Stress-Related Heartburn
  While stress isn't a direct cause of heartburn the way it can directly cause or exacerbate some other conditions, stress can indirectly trigger and worsen heartburn. Learn more about the stress-heartburn connection, and find ways to prevent both, with Heartburn Guide Sharon Gillson's blog on stress and heartburn.

• Stress and Infertility
  Infertility is a heavy, sometimes crushing, stressor. In this bog on the stress of infertility, About.com's Infertility Guide Rachel Gurevich shares important research on just how emotionally distressing infertility can be, and provides resources for those experiencing ("surviving") this deeply stressful challenge, as well as some interesting food for thought.

The Impact Of Stress

• Stress and Your Stomach
  When I was a child, I'd feel sick to my stomach any time I faced excessive amounts of stress. Since then, I've learned that I'm far from alone in this physical response--it's quite common! Dr. Barbara Bradley Bolen, Guide to IBS, explains what's behind the stress-gut connection in her blog on stress and your stomach, and she provides several effective strategies for mitigating the impact of stress on your digestive system, even if you don't suffer from IBS, but just have a naturally stress-sensitive stomach, like me.

• The Impact of Stress on Memory
  Have you ever felt that you're so stressed, your mind is foggy and you're easily distracted? That's because stress can have a direct effect on cognitive functioning, and can impact you in ways like decreased memory capacity. Alzheimers Guide Dr. Andrew Rosenzweig has a thorough and straightforward piece on stress and memory that applies to those touched by Alzheimers, as well as those affected by stress--and isn't that all of us? Read up for important information and techniques to help you manage stress to better safeguard your memory.

• Stress and Addiction
  Stress has a somewhat complex relationship with addiction, but it is very real. As our understanding of addition deepens, researchers are seeing that people can get addicted not only to substances like heroin and nicotine, but also relatively benign pleasures like shopping, dessert and sex. Addictions Guide Elizabeth Hartney explains more of the factors involved in addiction and how addictions are related to stress using clear language and linking to many further resources, in her blog on stress and addiction. Even if you don't have an obvious addiction, this is quite an informative blog to read.

• Stress and Blood Cancers
  We know that stress has an effect on many different conditions and parts of the body, but most people don't think of how stress may be connected to blood cancers like lymphoma. Well, there is, in fact, a connection, though researchers are still unclear on all the specifics. Find out what we do know, and how to cope with the heavy stress that comes with leukemia and lymphoma with Lymphoma Guide Karen Raymaakers' informative writings on stress and blood cancers.

Stress-Relieving Activities

• Yoga and Stress
  Yoga has gained popularity as a stress relief tool in recent years, and for good reason: yoga combines several very effective stress relief methods into one activity and has measurable results on stress. Yoga Guide Ann Pizer has more information on the stress reducing effects of yoga, and can help you get started in whatever way works best for you.

• Walking Away Stress
  Walking is another fantastic form of stress relief, and is helpful in several ways at once. Walking Guide Wendy Bumgardner explains the many ways that walking helps relieve stress, and supplies resources to get started in her blog on walking and stress. (Do I detect a New Year's resolution?)

If you enjoyed this blog carnival, you're in luck--I already have another blog carnival coming up on New Year's Resolutions! If you would like to see more blog carnivals here, please let me know in the comments section. If you're a blogger and you'd like to participate in a carnival, please email me.

Blog carnival posts and links are not reviewed by About.com's Medical Review Board.