Mike Ronsisvalle Ph.D - Stress Relief for Life: Practical Solutions to Help You Relax and Live Better

Practical and easy to use, this book is an effective resource for people who want to avoid the health problems caused by unmanaged long-term stress.

DON COLBERT, MD
NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF THE SEVEN PILLARS OF
HEALTH AND THE BIBLE CURE SERIES

In this volume Dr. Mike Ronsisvalle offers classic, time-tested strategies to help those struggling with anxiety and stress. If implemented regularly, these strategies will help you to transform your mind and experience Gods peace. If you or someone you love is over-stressed, this book will help.

C. JEFFREY TERRELL, PHD
PSYCHOLOGIST AND PRESIDENT OF RICHMONT
GRADUATE UNIVERSITY

This thought-provoking, inspirational book is a thorough account of how stress can be successfully managed on a daily basis. It is a wonderfully useful tool that is user-friendly and hope-filled. With a refreshingly witty style, Dr. Mikes Stress Relief for Life is a compelling read. If you read just one health and wellness book this year, let this be the book.

AARON TABOR, MD
AUTHOR OF FIGHT NOW AND DR. TABORS SLIM & BEAUTIFUL DIET
AND FOUNDER OF PHYSICIANS LABORATORIES

From the very first pages, I was hooked. Dr. Mike not only described my stress-filled life in detail; he then threw out a lifeline. I felt I was having coffee with a friend as he laid out a twenty-one-day plan in his intelligent yet likable style. Its practical, its easy, and best of all, its doable. Stress Relief for Life is not only a good idea, but its also a great resourceone I plan on sharing with my friends.

ANN MAINSE
HOST, FULL CIRCLE TV SHOW

I know from personal experience that the strategies for stress relief set forth by Dr. Ronsisvalle in this volume really work. Unlike many secular alternatives, the spiritual dimension of human life is fully considered. This book is filled with psychological wisdom, biblical insight, and practical advice that will help everybody.

TIMOTHY GEORGE
FOUNDING DEAN OF BEESON DIVINITY SCHOOL OF SAMFORD
UNIVERSITY AND THEOLOGICAL ADVISOR FOR CHRISTIANITY TODAY

Most CHARISMA HOUSE BOOK GROUP products are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchase for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs. For details, write Charisma House Book Group, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, or telephone (407) 333-0600.

STRESS RELIEF FOR LIFE by Michael Ronsisvalle, PsyD
Published by Siloam
Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group
600 Rinehart Road
Lake Mary, Florida 32746
www.charismahouse.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NCV are from The Holy Bible, New Century Version. Copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75039. Used by permission.

Cover design by Marvin Eans
Design Director: Bill Johnson

Copyright 2011 by Mike Ronsisvalle, PsyD
All rights reserved

Visit the authors website at www.MyRealityOnline.com.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Ronsisvalle, Mike.

Stress relief for life / Mike Ronsisvalle.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-61638-357-2 (trade paper) ISBN 978-1-61638-432-6 (e-book) 1. Stress (Psychology) 2. Stress management. 3. Relaxation. I. Title.

BF575.S75R655 2011

155.9042dc22

2011004630

This book contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is solely for informational and educational purposes and should not be regarded as a substitute for professional medical treatment. The nature of your bodys health condition is complex and unique. Therefore, you should consult a health professional before you begin any new exercise, nutrition, or supplementation program or if you have questions about your health. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this book.

Some names, places, and identifying details with regard to stories in this book have been changed to help protect the privacy of individuals who may have had similar experiences. The illustrations may consist of composites of a number of people with similar issues and names and circumstances changed to protect their confidentiality. Any similarity between the names and stories of individuals described in this book to individuals known to readers is purely coincidental.

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication.

First Edition

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Printed in the United States of America

T HE SIGNS ARE all around us, in the chatter you hear in almost any living room, office, classroom, or coffeehouse:

I cant believe its 6:30 p.m. already, and Im not done with this proposal.

Would you just shut up and listen to me? Im not going to sit here and argue with you all night.

Honey, I think Jenny is having sex with her boyfriend. I found birth control pills in her closet.

Ive got mailagain?

Twelve more American soldiers were killed today at the hands of a suicide bomber

Mom, I am not too young to wear a miniskirt!

The baby is up again, and Ive got to make a presentation tomorrow morning.

I just cant take it anymore!

Life is more complicated than ever before, and people are overwhelmed and overstressed. Just look around. People are pulsating in the pressure cooker of unbridled expectations at work and at home. Companies now pride themselves on their ability to do more with less manpower. They call it downsizing; everyone else calls it torture. And we cant find a respite at home because the simplicity of family life has been replaced with what can be described only as chaotic over-scheduling. Children are juggling soccer games, dance classes, church activities, and tutoringall in the same day.

Despite its modern advancements, the twenty-first century has made our lives more complex. Family configurations are morphing rapidly, and technology is only adding to the stress it was supposed to eliminate. Twenty-four-hour, five-hundredchannel TV access; unlimited cell phone service; and ever-present wireless Internet connections make life exciting but extremely exhausting. As a society, we are literally coming apart at the seams as we become victims of our own impossible schedules and chronically disconnected relationships. And it seems as if there is no end in sight.

During my training as a clinical psychologist, I was encouraged to look for the underlying issues behind a persons presenting problem of stress. Was it a troubled childhood? How about some significant trauma suffered earlier in life or a current interpersonal crisis? As it turns out, much of my practical experience in counseling tells me that the presenting problem underneath stress often involves difficulty managing what we consider normal, everyday life.