contribute to each other, making the effect worse than need be. What I have learned from this video and group discussions I attend on stress is you can not avoid stress. You can change how you perceive it. It is easier said than done. We have years of dealing with stress in our own way. We have hardwired our brains to react a certain way. The trick is to recognize the trigger and consciously say to yourself, ok this happened I can let this bother me or I can do xyz.
As an example of one of my triggers. When I am driving somewhere and someone pulls out in front of me and goes way under the speed limit it sets off my learned response of swearing at them, my hands grip the steering wheel tighter, I generally tense up. Don't they know I am late? Why can't they at least go the speed limit? How I deal with it now (most of the time) I leave the house 5 minutes earlier. When it happens I tell myself, hey you have a nice car, relax and enjoy the drive. I have plenty of time to get there, there is no rush. I found now when that happens relaxing is becoming my automatic response.
When anger/stress was my learned response I would get to my destination and say the store was crowded, long lines, having to wait an hour to see the Dr., friends I am meeting up with are late would compound the stress. By the time I would get home I would be wound up tighter than a jack in the box waiting to explode. I did one day. I had a heart attack. Which is why I am learning about stress- Dr's orders. 
As a result I have less lower back and neck pain, stomach aches and hardly ever get migraines anymore.
I am not good at relaxation techniques-yet. Put on a relaxing CD (I like music of the Scottish Moors) The idea is to get in a comfortable position. Starting with your toes, alternately tighten, stretch and relax your muscles x2. Working your way up your body doing the best you can. Work your way up to your chin, mouth and eyebrows. Where you have the pain, I would suggest just relaxing the area. Imagine you are on a massage table on a deserted beach, with a gentle breeze and the sun warming the area. I am not saying this will take away your pain, but hoping it will take it down 1/2 a degree.
How these techniques have helped me. On a scale of 1 -10, ten being the worst. I now start my day between a 0 and 2. When my stressors occur, I have changed my thinking and I may rise to a 4 by the end of the day. Where I used to start my day at a 4 and be at or near a 10 by bedtime. Which made for a good night's sleep- not. So I would start the next morning with a high stress level. A never ending cycle that fed into each other. I can also distinguish better between real medical issues and pain brought on by stress.
This board shines when we rally around and support each other. You are more than welcome. I hope that this post comes off as I intended-helpful, not as a condescending holier than thou thing. Due to my experiences I have to learn how to handle stress, this is my process. I can not change my heart problems. Heck I can not change some of my risk factors. I can not change genetics, Thanks Mom. I already ate a healthy diet, so all I could do was some tweaking. Even though I am physically fit, I have added an exercise routine. I can change how I perceive and react to stress, my major contributor. I was so stressed out that it was my norm and never realized it. The great thing about advice is we can take what works for us and leave the rest.
I suspect you opened up for the same reason as me being drawn to reply to your post. Talking about our challenges and knowing that we are not alone is a stress reliever in and of itself.
Just 1 question. Other than red, what kind of car is that?
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