Before we have a discussion about stress, let’s define our terms. What exactly are the types of stress we are talking about? There are the physical stresses like lack of sleep or working nine hours digging ditches. There are the chemical or nutritional stresses that are becoming more common every day in America. Have a soda and a pizza and people-watch for a while. Then there are the emotional or mental stresses. I bet you are talking about emotional stress.

Okay, let’s talk about emotional stress, but understand that all three types of stress can create the same effects of stress. There are certain patterns that occur during times of stress, no matter what type you want to talk about. Here is a list of the effects of stress: circulatory changes, skin rashes, fatigue of the adrenal glands, slowing down of the lymphatic system, irritation of the intestinal tract … almost all symptoms of the body will show the effects of stress.

So instead of looking at all the symptoms, which will be of no use to you anyway, let’s go to the cause and correction of the cause of stress. Because no matter what the causes and effects of stress are, there are some powerful ways to reduce them.

Emotional stress

Some people never “get over” the death of a loved one, a marital breakdown, or other severe stress. Never. These people live their lives in the constant presence of past emotional stress. Even extensive counseling does not help some people. Counseling at such times can be very important to a person, but counseling does not reset emotional stress overload breakers if they have been shorted.

How many stressful life events can you think of that cause your “stomach to knot” or cause a feeling of discomfort or tears in your eyes? The presence of these symptoms when thinking of an emotionally stressful event is a sure indication that emotional stress overload points need to be “reset” by you or someone close to you.

Have you ever seen a person in distress or completely frustrated, put their hand to their forehead? Maybe you’ve done it yourself … recently. Why on the forehead? It is no coincidence that placing your hand on your forehead is an instinctive reaction. Your body knows what it is doing.

Neurological “breakers” have been found to be located on the skin of the forehead and are associated with mental and emotional stress overload. The instinctive reaction of the person’s nervous system is to call attention to these circuit breakers.

Think about the last time you were in a stressful situation. How about a school assignment that you forgot? What about that person you have to talk to but don’t want to? What about that upcoming event that you have to attend, and is it the last thing you want to do? Think of “that one thing” that causes you stress.

In each of these situations, if you think about the one that causes you intensity, it is very possible that you will put your hand to your forehead. You could even add a head shake. The point is that this thought is causing you stress and the job of your subconscious mind is to minimize the effects of stress by trying to reset your emotional breakers. So let’s do this for real. It will take 5 minutes and it is very possible that it will change your life.

Find something moderately stressful. Think about it for ten seconds or to the point where this thought gives you a “feeling” of stress. You know what I mean? If it’s not there, add some sensations like movement, sound, color, or glow.

Now, place your fingertips on the emotional breakers; They are the two bony spots on your forehead. Make sure you are thinking about that stressful episode while touching your forehead. Hold these points with a slight stretch or pull of the skin and you will reset these circuits. The contacts should be held until you feel a slight pulsation (such as taking a pulse at the wrist or neck) in both fingers simultaneously. This usually takes between 30 seconds and two minutes. Once the pulsation is felt, the contacts may be held for a few more seconds and then released.

This is a simple but powerful way to reset your emotional breakers in relation to a specific episode of stress. It will drastically reduce the intensity of the event. If not, do it again. Do this until the intensity drops to zero.

How you feel? You have just removed a significant effect of stress from your life.