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	Vol.7, No 47, November 18, 1999
	Women's forum gives ways to reduce holiday stress By Cynthia Tom Special to the Daily Forty-Niner Relaxation exercises and sharing holiday responsibilities are two ways to eliminate holiday stress, according to a worksheet handed out during a forum Tuesday at the Women's Resource Center. The forum, titled "Sometimes My Family Drives Me Nuts," offered solutions and support to women overwhelmed by shopping, hosting parties, final exams and other stressful activities around Christmastime. Relaxation techniques included breathing exercises, head rotations and shoulder rolls, said various forum participants. Women can also reduce holiday stress by not taking on so many responsibilities, such as hosting parties and doing all the Christmas shopping for their family, participants said. "The trend has been that women make the holidays happen, and they face more pressure to succeed to support themselves," said Lynne Coenen, assistant director of the Women's Resource Center. Led by campus psychologist Carrie Jo Johnson, the forum addressed many aspects of holiday stress, including the changing role of women, pressures women put upon themselves and gender-role assignments placed by society. Johnson pointed out that women face unwanted pressure for trying to please everyone, being the perfect hostess for family gatherings, finding the perfect present for everyone, and having to be in 10 different places at once. "The first step is identification [of the source of stress], but then you have to do something about it," Johnson said. To reduce the stress of spending more money than others, women can make their own gifts such as photo books capturing special memories or bring items they don't use anymore, forum participants said. "This is a place where people can connect with each other and talk about similar concerns," said Mimi Bommersbach, a forum participant and predoctorate intern with Counseling and Psychological Services. "They can find people with the same things going on." The women's center holds forums every month to discuss contemporary issues women face, including theoretical and practical issues, Coenen said. The Women's Resource Center is in LA3-105 and open five days a week. For more information, one may call (562) 985-8687.		Holiday Stress Relievers Breathing exercises, head rotations and shoulder rolls.   Not taking on too many responsibilities, such as hosting parties and doing all the Christmas shopping for their family.   Make gifts such as photo books capturing special memories or bring items not used anymore.                           Smokeout helps smokers quit   Womenís forum gives ways to reduce holiday stress   Sex not taboo subject   MBAs earned faster at CSULB   Japanese tour group hopes to learn American ways   Police Log Donít blame police   Getaways good for piece of mind   Jumping the city 'Anywhere But Here' lacks creative storyline   Reviewer slams Pokemon, Pocket Size albums BASKETBALL PREVIEW Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.