Ask yourself, "Am I in control of this stressful situation?" You can be!! It is important to be able to identify the cause of each stressful situation so you know how to effectively lower your stress. I believe it is important to take care of yourself first, whether it be making time for rest and relaxation or "digging in" to complete the task that may be causing you stress. When one feels that stress is controling him/her, it can/will definitely make a negative impact on your emotions, your thoughts and even your health. Plan ahead and be prepared to get in control of things that might be causing stress in your life BEFORE it happens.