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What is the biggest source of stress you have in your life? What is the most effective technique you have used to handle it? 

In order to answer this question adequately I must be a bit lengthy. I have been told I possess resilience. As a youth I suffered a great deal from stress related illnesses. At 8 years old I had a stomach ulcer, at 11 shingles, constant stomach problems and severe insomnia. Severe enough that I was prescribed Librium ( I was in 7^th grade).  I was always ill. I continued on in that vein throughout High School, (an extended psychiatric stay in 1973) numerous therapists, drugs, cures and what have you. After High School I struggled with many issues, the worst 2 being alcohol and drugs. (not the prescribed drugs although they were also a problem). I was “diagnosed” severe bi-polar.  More troubles, more drugs (prescribed and otherwise.) Through all of this fun I always held a job and mostly lived on my own. I even had fun sometimes. Other times, not so much. In the 80’s I got married and 2 years later I got divorced. More adventures: good & bad. Another visit to the hospital (extended again).  But still worked, still maintained an excellent outer persona.  The 90’s brought sobriety through the AA program for a few years and then I had my son. Did I mention I was single & sober at the time? Ah, well this event was a total game changer! In the past 16 years, little of that girl that I was has remained, (except perhaps my life saving sense of humor, one of those 8 important resources for coping mentioned on page 80 of our text book.) The other 7 I have learned.  I have studied at great length subjects related to stress & illness, coping strategies, alcohol & drug abuse, depression etc. etc. etc. I am familiar with Seyle’s  General Adaption Syndrome (GAS) and how chronic stress can lead to chronic illness. Also with PTSD & depression and the many different ways of coping with these things: behavior modification, biofeedback, relaxation techniques and many others. I am 53 years of age. I am continuing my education at this time in order to continue to improve and expand on the me I strive to be. In the past 5 years I have lost 35 pounds, gotten divorced (for the 2^nd time), quit smoking (after 30 years), I do not drink at all, I eat healthy food, I exercise, I rest and I deal with what life hands me as it is handed to me. Not before and not after. I believe I possess “HARDINESS”(pg 70 in text), in that I am COMMITTED to my personal welfare and the welfare of my child, I feel I have CONTROL of the outcomes of my events and most importantly of my reactions to those outcomes and I rise to the CHALLENGES when I am faced with them. Every obstacle is a potential for self improvement. I care deeply about the welfare of others, but not at the expense of my own well being. I am employed at a workshop that provides care for the chronically mentally ill, so I am reminded daily of where I do not want to be and how easy it is to be there. I possess an “INTERNAL LOCUS OF CONTROL” which according to the text book on pg 81 means that, (and I am paraphrasing here): “that I believe that I am in charge of my own destiny and am therefore able to adopt more positive coping strategies”. I have bad days, I have great days, I have average days. I make mistakes. I fall short at times. But I never allow falling short to be an excuse for “falling out.” And with that I will close. Thanks for your patience in my verbosity.