High potency mega B-50 with vitamin-C taken three or four times a day may help alleviate stress for some women. Calcium-magnesium capsules or liquid in a one-to-one ratio are useful to take at bedtime. Where possible, purchase high quality natural supplements from a health food store.

Exercise Regularly

The sixth step is to exercise regularly but not obsessively. Choose a physical activity that you enjoy doing. Don't make the obligation to exercise into a stressful situation. In addition to being a good safety valve for letting off steam, exercise helps you resist the effects of stress and makes you feel good, look better and sleep well.

Arrange A Massage Or Body Work

The seventh step is to arrange for a regular massage if you face chronic stress. Massage not only helps tense muscles relax, it also makes you aware of where you carry tension in your body and how to prevent the build-up of more tension.

For chronic muscular tension, you may want to explore one of the different forms of body work which teach you how to retrain the circuits between your brain and muscles. Examples of such methods are the Alexander technique, Feldenkrais method, Trager therapy and Somatics.

Learn The Art Of Relaxation

The eighth step is to learn the fine art of relaxation. Learning how to relax deeply is a skill that anyone can learn.

There is a variety of techniques from meditation to biofeedback to self-hypnosis. Here are three different types of relaxation exercises to experiment with. As you try these methods, you may find at first that you don't relax and thoughts and worries distract you. Acknowledge these thoughts and then let them go. You can also make an audiotape of these exercises and play it back to yourself.

Here are some relaxation techniques you can use.

Easy Self-Hypnosis:

1. Sit comfortably in a chair facing a wall about eight feet away. Pick a spot or an object on the wall that is about one foot above your sitting level. This is your focal point.

2. Look at your focal point, and begin counting backwards from 24, one number for each breath you exhale.

3. As you count and continue to concentrate on your focal point, imagine yourself floating, floating down, down through the chair, very comfortable.

4. As you stare at your focal point you will find that your eyelids feel heavier and begin to blink. When this happens, just let your eyes close.

5. While your eyes are closed, continue to count backward, one number for each time you exhale. As you count, imagine how it would feel to be totally relaxed and floating in a safe, comfortable space.

6. As that safe, comfortable feeling comes over you, you can stop counting and just float.

7. If any disturbing thoughts enter your space, just let them flow out again, continue to feel safe and relaxed.

8. When you're ready to end the session, either let yourself drift off to sleep, or count from one to three and exit using the following steps. At one let yourself get ready, at two take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds, and three exhale and open your eyes slowly. As you open your eyes, continue to hold on to that relaxed, comfortable feeling.