Statistics show that Americans are some of the most stress filled and stressed out people on the planet. One would think the opposite would be true with all the technical advances, medical achievements, and common everyday luxuries we use on an everyday basis, but it is not. Americans are some of the most up-tight, grumpy people in the world.

Stress is our emotional, psychological, and physical response and reaction to the situations and circumstances we face in life. Stress is not the real problem. Stress is merely a symptom of the deeper problems within a person’s life.

Someone sent me this letter not to long ago that said: "I have recently been diagnosed with AAADD, Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. See if you can relate:

I decided to work on the car, started to the garage and noticed the mail on the table. Okay, I am going to go work on the car, but first I am going to go through the mail. I laid my car keys down on the desk. After discarding the junk mail I noticed that the trash can was full. Okay, I’ll just put the bills on my desk, but first I’ll take the trash out. But since I am going to be near the mailbox, I’ll address a few bills. Yeah, now where is the checkbook? Oh, there’s only one check left. Where did I put those extra checks? Oh, there is my empty plastic cup from last night on my desk. I’m going to go look for those checks, but first I need to put the cup back in the kitchen.

I headed for the kitchen, looked out the window and noticed the flowers needed a drink of water. I put the cup on the counter and there was my extra pair of glasses on the kitchen counter. What are they doing here? I’ll just go put them away. But first I need to water those plants. I headed for the door and—oh, someone has left the TV remote in the wrong spot. Okay, I’ll put the remote away and water the plants, but first I need to find those checks.

At the end of the day: the bills were still unpaid, cup was still in the sink, checkbook still has only one check left and I lost my car keys! And when I try to figure out how come nothing got done today I am baffled because I knew I was busy!"

1. Physical: illness, weight gain, weight loss
2. Relationships: family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, classmates, death
3. Work: expectations, deadlines, goals
4. Change: career, divorce, marriage, move, salary, jobs
5. Future or Past: the fear of the unknown or the fear of the known

1. Drugs and Alcohol: abuse
2. Entertainment: movies, music, TV in excess
3. Internet: addiction and acting
4. Pornography: #1 addiction in the world
5. Eating Disorders: anorexia or bulimia
6. Avoidance: ignoring or making light of
7. Anger: outburst of physical or verbal violence

1. CALL out to God.

"Call out to me and I will answer you and show and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

"Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak." Psalm 31:9-10

"The news about Jesus spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:15-16

2. CRY out to God.

"Being in anguish, Jesus prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." Luke 22:44

3. CAST out to God.

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

"Cast all your cares on God; that anchor holds." Alfred, Lord Tennyson

"Now may the Lord of PEACE Himself give you PEACE at all times and in every way." 2 Thessalonians 3:16

"PEACE I leave with you; my PEACE I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

"A heart at PEACE gives life to the body." Proverbs 14:30

"God will keep him in PEACE whose mind is steadfast on Him." Isaiah 26:3

"Come to me, all you who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you REST." Matthew 11:28

"In the world you will have trouble. But take heart I have OVERCOME the world." John 16:33

"My soul finds REST in God alone, my salvation comes from Him." Psalm 62:1

"The Lord blesses His people with PEACE." Psalm 29:11

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will STRENGTHEN you and HELP you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

"Be STILL and KNOW that I am God." Psalm 46:10