November 7-November 14 is National Stress Out Week according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. They're trying to raise awareness because stress can contribute to a number of heart diseases.

You don't have to wait until November to slam the door on stress and asher in the calming effect that stress relievers can have on your mind, body, and soul.

Pick any day - it can even be a Tuesday, and start a week-long stress relief session that will alleviate tension and help you enjoy life to the fullest.

On day 1, don't wake up right away. Set your alarm a little earlier if you need to, but give yourself time to lie there and relax without rushing around to get ready for work.

You might even open your bedroom window and listen to the bird chirping and the wind rustling the trees, or turn on your radio and let the tunes put you in a good mood before your feet hit the floor.

Avoid starting your day off by flipping on the TV and hearing about all of the day's disasters and bad news clips. Don't think about all of the work you have to get done that day, but instead enjoy your comfy bed, your pillow, and those few moments you can savor before entering the rat race.

On the second day of your stress relief session, keep the extra five minutes in bed routine going, but add on something else - a positive morning mantra.

A mantra is a statement you say that's something you believe (or are trying to believe). It might be, "Today I will do my best to spread positivity to others." This would work if you find yourself normally being negative around others.

Try not to make your mantra a negative itself, such as, "I won't be negative anymore." Turn it into a positive statement like, "I will be a positive person today."

Repeat your mantra as you get ready - while combing your hair, eating breakfast, getting dressed, and throughout the day if you need a reminder. You might even write it down so that you see it consistently.

Inhale, Exhale. Deep breathing is a great stress reliever. Most of us don't even realize it, but when we breathe, it's very shallow. I remember sitting in counseling one day (solo marriage counseling) and she said, "Do you realize you take very short breaths?"

I hadn't even noticed, but it was true! I barely breathed in. Once I started breathing deep, it helped me relax instantly. Slow, deep breathing can help you take a few seconds to reach a more relaxed state.

You might not even be aware of how your breathing works, since it's a natural thing you do without thought. But see what your breathing is like right now. Compare that to when you feel anxious or upset.

Learn to visualize your peaceful state. Visualization techniques have been used to help combat depression, manage pain, and increase mental clarity.

If you're stressed, visualizing a soothing scene will help your body calm down. It will, in turn, have a positive effect on your mind as well.

You can combine visualization with aromatherapy and audio if you wish. You can either use visualization in your mind or use online videos or DVDs to achieve your stress releiving goals.

Just make sure you picture something calming and relaxing to you and don't relive images of things that get you all riled up.

It might sound odd, but making repetitive movements can help release stress! I'm not talking about a stress tic such as blinking your eyes over and over again.

Instead, try a movement designed to help release stress from your body, like rolling your shoulders back or doing some other type of stretch that will make you feel better.

There's something calming about reptitive movements, and for stress, it might be as simple as squeezing a stress relief ball to let the anxiety get released through your hands.

Journal your stress away! For some people, writing it down helps them rid their minds of the issues that are stressing them out in the first place.

You need some sort of release, and journaling is a great way to ensure your stress doesn't stay bottled up - causing emotional and physical health issues.

Pick a journal that makes you feel calm or in a happy mood. Some people can make do with a spiral notebook or a computer word processor, but others like to choose a nice journal from a bookstore that represents a serene place in their lives.

Each day or night, funnel the stress of your day out into your journal, but make sure that's not all you focus on! You might want to get another journal that you end with that's strictly a gratitude journal, helping shine a light on what good things happened to you that day.

So it's day 7 and you should be combining all of these stress tips each day to help you get a handle on your anxiety and frustration. On this last day, I want you to really tune into your body.

Start recognizing where you're feeling the stress, because it's different for everybody. Some people feel it in the base of their necks, while others realize they're grinding their teeth.

Begin focusing on that are and trying to concentrate on stress relief for that outlet. You might not be able to see it right away, feeling as if it's an all-over sensation that causes friction from head to toe.

Begin participating in some exercise stress relief techniques that will help you chase away the blues and release some healthy endorphins. Use a balance ball and meditate while you relax.

Lift some hand weights and visualize the stress draining from your body. Most of all, do something to relieve your stress because the effects it can have on your health can be disastrous.