Myth: Cigarette smoking helps fight stress
Fact: Smokers argue that smoking is calming and relaxing, and also helps concentrate and think clearly. Stress increases the heart rate and pumps up the blood pressure. Smoking makes the heart beat an extra 35,000 times per day and also increases the blood pressure. Despite nicotine causing dopamine to be released into the brain, all the other substances in a cigarette actually puts a huge strain on both the brain and body, causing more tension, anxiety and putting one more on edge.

Myth: A vacation necessarily de stresses
Fact: A vacation is the much needed break that is taken to unwind. The process of planning a vacation, the details travel dates and the actual process of travel can actually stress out. The idea of a vacation is to unwind. Working out vacations which require to be in a bus by six in the morning travel long hours, hectic round of seeing places, return to the hotel late at night only to set an early morning alarm give no time to unwind. A vacation that allows stay in one place, a spaced out time table with an option to do nothing can work.

Myth: Popping Vitamin B is a good stress reliever
Fact: Group B vitamins, especially vitamin B6, B12 and folate, have been thought to relieve stress by affecting brain chemicals involved in brain function and mood. Current scientific evidence does not indicate a link between supplementation of these B vitamins and effect on stress.

Myth: The mindless punching buttons of a video game is stressful
Fact: The mindless punching of buttons and concentrating on the screen actually distresses and helps focus energy positively. Repetitive games that are easy to master but have a difficult goal to achieve are the best stress relievers. Recent studies show that video games may help reduce stress. There is however, a thin line between addiction and casual stress relief. Thirty minutes of playing is enough to calm the nerves.

Myth: Casual sex is a good stress buster
Fact: Sex makes us feel good and is said to improve overall health. Casual sex induces a high in some individuals and is used as a way to forget their problems. However, casual sex encounters may end up causing emotional turbulence and guilt feelings in the concerned people. Also, unprotected sex with just anyone is very risky and not advisable. Casual sex for purely its health benefits cannot be advocated.

Myth: Eating junk food is a good way to beat stress
Fact: Eating foods rich in fat and sugar can alter the chemical composition of the brain and reduce anxiety. Food seems to affect neurogenesis similar to the way anti-depressants promote nerve growth in the brain. Eating of junk food is not advisable as a way to fight stress as this would set people on a path to other serious health problems.

Pic: Dominic Morel