Is Pinterest a Site of Unrealized Dreams?

Survey reveals the photo-sharing website causes stress.

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Do You Live in the Most Stressed-Out State?

Survey reveals Hawaii to be least stressed-out state in the country.

Hawaii was reported to be the least stressed state in the country, not surprising. 

In its fifth annual survey, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index revealed 89.7 percent of Hawaiians experienced the most perpetual enjoyment in their paradise compared to 84.9 percent of Americans in other states overall. 

Calculated through daily surveys with residents, Gallup found only 32.1 percent of Hawaiians reported to experience stress on a daily basis versus 40.6 percent of people in other states.

Residents in states which reported the least stress also experienced the most enjoyment than those in states which reported to feel less enjoyment and more stress. 

There was one exception though. Utah surveyed to be in the top five states for both stress and enjoyment. Survey conductors are not quite sure what to make of their findings. 

Here are the five most stressed-out states, as measured by the proportion of people who reported feeling stress "a lot of the day yesterday":

West Virginia, 47.1 percent
Rhode Island, 46.3 percent
Kentucky, 44.8 percent
Utah, 44.6 percent
Massachusetts, 43.4 percent

The five least stressed-out states:

Hawaii, 32.1 percent
Louisiana, 37.6 percent
Mississippi, 37.9 percent
Iowa, 38.1 percent
Wyoming, 38.6 percent

The five states that experienced the most enjoyment:

Hawaii, 89.7 percent
Wyoming, 88.8 percent
Utah, 88.7 percent
North Dakota, 87.9 percent
Idaho, 87.3 percent

The five states that experienced the least enjoyment:

Rhode Island, 80.4 percent
Kentucky, 81.3 percent
New Jersey, 82.0 percent
New York, 82.1 percent
West Virginia, 82.7 percent

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Photo Credit: Kintail.com 

Best Ways to Reduce Stress

Limit Yourself: That saying “music calms even the savage beast” is the truth. Research shows that music therapy reduces emotional distress and anxiety. It also improves coordination along the way. Some Grover Washington, Jr. can sooth you, or you can bump some Waka Flocka and take out your stress at the gym. It’s up to you.

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Do you know how to handle the stress in your life?

What does just about every American have in common? Stress.

In 2011, USA Today reported that stress levels in America were decreasing, but only because we're getting used to living that way and not reporting it as much. Among the leading reasons for stress are problems at work, relationships, health and money issues. Here are a few tips on how to handle stress when it enters your life.

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Tracking Employees' Every Move Means More Stress, Less Satisfaction

Not necessarily more productivity

Technology has helped many of us make our days more efficient, but for others its one of the factors contributing to a stressful work environment. Employers are beginning to use technology (whether it be GPS, headsets, or requiring employees to hand over passwords) to track their employees movements inside and outside the office. They read emails, monitor keystrokes, track how much time is spent on the phone, in the bathroom, talking to co-workers or away from their desks. In all but six states, employers can require employees to provide their passwords to social networking sites. And in most states, employers can monitor their employees and are not required by law to tell them it's happening. Human resources expert Peter Cheese says it's all part of an effort to drive down costs and squeeze as much production as possible out of each employee. "In the kind of economic environment we're in now, companies become very risk-averse. Managers at every level are saying, 'I need to know what everyone is doing. But there is concern that this technology is being used in some Big Brother way to check in on employees," said Cheese. And the cost of efficiency may be worker satisfaction. Workers thrive when they feel trusted and allowed to experiment, but when they are watched too closely, "it becomes a micromanagement control system and you disengage the workforce," he said. (LA Times)

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Take Caution: How Stress Can Literally Hurt Your Heart

Calm down & save your life

We know stress is bad for you, but new studies show the actual effects it can have on your heart. Upon studying those exposed to high-stress situations -- including veterans with PTSD, New Orleans residents six years after Hurricane Katrina and Greeks struggling through that country's financial turmoil -- researchers saw higher rates of cardiac problems. Doctors say disasters and prolonged stress can raise "fight or flight" hormones that affect blood pressure and blood sugar. They also provoke anger and helplessness and spur heart-harming behaviors like eating or drinking too much. A study of 207,954 veterans showed that 35 percent of those with PTSD (compared to 19 percent without) developed insulin resistance after a two year period, which can lead to diabetes and hardening of the arteries. But PTSD can also effect those who suffer trauma such as being raped, robbed at gunpoint or in a serious accident. (NBC News)

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Good Karma: Doing Favors for Others Can Lower Your Stress Level

And it can extend your life!

When you do good deeds for others, it actually reduces your own stress levels, according to a new study. Though research has show that stressors--like losing a job or a loved one--can worsen your health and ultimately shorten your life, doing favors for others can lengthen it. Among the 846 adults in this study, those who helped others were less likely to die in the five years that followed a major blow, and for those who didn't, every stressful event they experienced led to a 30 percent greater risk of death. Bill Coplin, Ph.D., author of How You Can Help: An Easy Guide to Doing Good Deeds in Your Everyday Life, says you can smart small: be the designated driver, make lunch for a co-worker, or split oversized groceries with a neighbor. (Today)

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'Coming Out' Good For Your Health, Study Shows

Less stress, signs of depression

For gays, lesbians and bisexuals, leading a "double life" can affect their physical and mental health. A study by McGill University and the University of Montreal found that those who "came out," or disclosed their sexuality, to family, friends and co-workers were psychologically healthier and had lower stress hormone levels and fewer signs of depression than those who were still “in the closet.” Lead author of the study Robert-Paul Juster said, "It seems to be that if you’re using more avoidance coping, and wishful thinking, then you get poorer health.” For those who come out, though, "a rebirth happens that makes them feel much more empowered and conscientious." Similarly, a study from Columbia University last year found that after Massachusetts enacted its same-sex marriage law in 2003, there was a significant drop in medical and mental health care visits incurred by gay men. (NBC News)

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Loneliness May Lead to Decline in Physical Health, Study Says

Valuable and healthy relationships should improve poor immunity.

Bad relationships or little to no relationships at all can actually affect a person’s physical health, researchers report. In a study of 200 breast cancer survivors compared to study participants with more social connections, people who felt lonely showed more inflammation in response to stress and higher levels of a latent herpes virus—a sign of poor immunity.

"It is clear from previous research that poor-quality relationships are linked to a number of health problems, including premature mortality [death] and all sorts of other very serious health conditions,” said study author Lisa Jaremka, a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at Ohio State University. “And people who are lonely clearly feel like they are in poor-quality relationships.”

The reactivation of a latent herpes virus is known to be linked to stress. Investigators said these findings suggest that lonliness acts as a chronic source of stress that triggers a poorly controlled immune response. The data and conclusions are viewed as preliminary until published by a peer-reviewed journal. (U.S. News)

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Do You Have Busy Life Syndrome?

Doctors declare a new epidemic brought on by stress and social media

*cue sad music and concerned voice*

Did you forget to return you friend's phone call? Are you setting alarms on your phone to remind yourself of menial tasks, like taking out the trash or picking up clothes from the dry cleaners?

Have you lost your car keys? 

Can't find that last pack of hot sauce from the wings spot?

Do you know where your left shoe is?

You're not alone. Dozens, hundreds and maybe even thousands of people can't find their left shoe and have no idea that it ended up in the trunk of the car they can't find the keys for. But now, finally, after years of suffering, people like you finally have an answer for why they keep forgetting to call people back and pick up that dress shirt.

You may be suffering from Busy Life Syndrome.

[Also Read: 'Devil's Breath' Drug Can Erase Memory and Block Free Will]

What is Busy Life Syndrome you ask?

Well, it's when your already hectic life of working, paying bills, raising children and watching TV gets bombarded with an influx of information from social media, smart phones and the Internet.

Here are some probable symptoms:

You know your neighbor's Twitter handle, but not his real name

Half of your work day is spent TFTing: Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr

You'll send a phone call to voice mail, but will answer a text instantly

Living out the movie "Dude, Where's My Car?" every time you enter a parking lot

“We believe there are widespread signs of the problem,” says Angela Scott-Henderson, spokesperson for CPS Research, the firm who created the term "Busy Life Syndrome." “Our attention spans and concentration levels are going down. It’s getting to be more common, affecting people at younger ages.”

[Also Read: Scientist Have Found A Way To Hack Your Brain and Steal Passwords]

Up until now we've seen studies that have people blaming social media for everything from divorce to spending more. We've even seen cases where social media is said to have negative effects on self-esteem and good manners in general.  But now it's being blamed for literally losing your mind?