Everything we were taught about stress is wrong!

Since I was a kid, I was told Don't go to bed angry and Don't lose your temper. But now, studies prove those were yesterday's lessons... here's today's lessons

Go to bed angry... We bargain and then fight some more in an effort to resolve the dispute, but the fact is, forcing a discussion by bedtime can actually make things worse. When you're upset, a part of the brain called the amygdala cues the fight-or-flight response, limiting your ability to have a calm, rational discussion. So it's a good idea to hold off on any showdown until you cool off.

Throw a tantrum every now and then... According to a study published in Biological Psychiatry, displaying your anger may actually cause your brain to release less cortisol, the stress hormone associated with obesity, bone loss, and heart disease. And while experts know that chronic anger contributes to hypertension and coronary disease, they've also found that expressing irritation in response to a short-term and unfair frustration, such as being cut off in traffic, can actually dampen the nasty effects of stress.

Cuddle with your pet... According to new scientific evidence the calming effects of spending time with a furry friend trump those obtained by hanging out with friends and family. Why? Probably because they can't talk back!

Don't express, keep it to yourself... Many people who avoid thinking or talking about their sadness have fewer short-term health problems, such as sore throats, diarrhea, and shortness of breath, as well as a lower incidence of long-term psychological problems. What's more, they return to their everyday lives more quickly than those who dwell upon their grief.

Eat chocolate!... Indulging in a little chocolate can actually help. According to new findings published in the Journal of Proteome Research, eating a few pieces of dark chocolate when you're feeling on edge can help calm your nerves. (Unfortunately for you milk chocolate lovers, the researchers believe the flavonoids in dark chocolate are responsible for this soothing effect.)

Do something you love... For some people, meditation is the secret to serenity, but for others, it's a fast track to frayed nerves. So find anything that allows you to disengage from your thoughts to help you relax. While chanting a mantra certainly helps to quiet your mind, if meditating is not your thing, any repetitive activity that keeps your attention in the present moment, including jogging, swimming, painting, scrapbooking, or whatever have you, will work just as well.