Scientific studies have recently shown that the use of social media can increase stress for some people.

Whether it is divisive political or religious rants, passive-aggressive status updates, condescending memes, explicit photos and videos or even helpful (but plentiful) posts from your groups and pages, our newsfeeds can become overrun with posts that cause anxiety and stress to interrupt our otherwise peaceful days.

Has this happened to you? You're just going about your day, checking in on your friends on Facebook and you come across this across your friends photos from her most recent vacation to Paris or Bermuda or the park down the street...you think to yourself, "Ugh, I wish I could afford take a vacation! Her life is so much more interesting than mine." Or, "OMG, she looks amazing and I still have baby food in my hair!"

Or, you come across some cleverly worded meme that is actually a veiled insult and you wonder, "Could that be aimed at me?" You don't think you've done anything to your friend, but....hmmm, maybe. "Why doesn't she just talk to me about it?"

...and your peace just flew out the door.

If you find that there are particular people, groups or pages that are spamming your newsfeed with negativity, there ARE steps you can take:

Do you feel like there is no hope for dealing with your growing stress? Certainly, the demands

of life can feel unbearable and unending at times, leaving you feeling helpless and out of

control. But what if you are actually more in control of things than you know? What if the simple

belief that have some control is the key to a life with less stress? Would you be willing to believe? I hope so,

because it’s true!

In fact, managing stress is all about empowering yourself. You have the power to take charge of your life, to focus on the positive things in life rather than the things that take your time, energy and ‘life’ from you. In doing so, you can a balanced life with time for work and responsibilities and relaxation and fun.

How does that sound? Are you willing to give it a shot? If so, let’s take a look at your stress story.

I love sleep.

If my schedule allowed for me to sleep all day long, I would. It’s a beautiful thing! I’m not sure there’s anything quite like surrounding yourself in the weight of a down comforter, sinking into a soft pillow and drifting off into the sweetness of a dream.

Sleep has always been my refuge. My mom tells me that, even as an infant, anytime I was upset and crying she would simply place me in my bed and I would quickly fall asleep. It’s the same today…as long as I don’t HAVE to sleep. See, I can sleep anywhere, anytime, in the middle of the day, as a quick and easy escape from the stresses or banality of life, but when evening falls my mind races and sleep is no longer a refuge, but a nemesis.

Do you suffer from insomnia? Do you lay awake at night willing your body and mind to quiet? Are you one of those who has solved the world’s problems, created the next literary masterpiece or resolved every relational conflict you’ve ever had with fantasy conversations in your head – all between the hours of 10 PM and 4 AM?