PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BENEFIT TRUST (PEBT) BENEFITS REPORT
January-February 2008

Learn How To Deal With Post-Holiday Stress

Many experts used to think that the year-end holidays were a time of great stress.

But researchers now believe that holiday stress is greatly exaggerated and that holiday blues are not as common - or as serious - as many psychologists believed.

New evidence suggests that "post-holiday letdown" is a greater threat to emotional wellbeing for most people.

If you're healthy, you're likely to feel up for the holidays. But the post-holiday season, when you return unwanted gifts, pay the bills and work off the added pounds can drag you down.

Symptoms of stress can be both physical and emotional.
Common physical symptoms include headaches, muscle tension and sleep disturbances. Emotional symptoms might include feelings of nervousness, depression, anxiety or helplessness. In severe situations one can experience overwhelming stress to the point of burnout with loss of enthusiasm for normal activities and interests.

To prevent the blues after the holidays or throughout the year.

• Create a schedule for yourself that allows you to get everything done while still giving yourself some time to exercise and relax. Exercise is a great antidote for fatigue, depression and overindulging.
• Maintain your exercise program.
• Don't drink too much. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system.
• Make time for the special tings you want to do.
• Share a meal with someone who needs a surrogate family, or volunteer to help out at a shelter or hospital.
• Get up 15 minutes earlier during the work week and walk or do a short yoga routine.
• Durng your morning break, go for a fast 15-minute walk/run and then eat a healthy snack to keep the metabolism working.
• Use 30 minutes of your lunch hour to take a walk around the block, office or mall and then eat a healthy lunch.
• Many people can manage their stress with these simple techniques. But if you feel that you cannot manage stress by yourself, seek professional help.

Millions of Americans, whether they're HMO members or not, mistakenly believe that HMOs never cover procedures often referred to as "plastic surgery." That is simply incorrect.

Some procedures are, of course, classified as cosmetic, and, therefore, are not covered. But women who undergo a mastectomy are entitled to reconstructive surgery as part of the HMO's comprehensive benefits package.

In the case of a participant or beneficiary who is receiving benefits under the plan in connection with a mastectomy and elects reconstruction, federal law requires coverage in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the patient, for:

• Reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed.
• Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance.
• Prostheses and treatment of physical complications at all stages of the mastectomy, including lymphedemas. This coverage is subject to the plan's annual deductible and coinsurance provisions.