Stress is a fact of everyday life. When people reach out for help, they are often dealing with circumstances, situations, and stressors in their lives that leave them feeling emotionally and physically overwhelmed. Many people feel that they have very little resources or skills to deal with the high levels of stress they are experiencing. The information in this manual has been compiled to provide information and education about stress, the effects of stress, and the most popular stress management and relaxation techniques that are being used today. This information could be helpful for people who want to learn how to react to stress in a more constructive, proactive way. The basic premise of this manual is that the benefits of stress reduction and relaxation techniques can be best noticed after they have been practiced regularly over a period of time.