Kathleen Hall knows a thing or two about commuting. As the founder of the Stress Institute, an educational resource for the general public, and author of "Alter Your Life: Overbooked? Overworked? Overwhelmed?" (Oak Haven Press), she has studied the effects of commuting on stress for years . And with a 90-minute commute to Atlanta, she has felt the effects for herself.

"Most people don't know that commuting is the most dangerous part of their days," she said.

"Commuters experience more stress than fighter pilots going into battle or riot police. We experience stress when we feel out of control. And when people are driving, they feel out of control and victimized. You have this feeling that it's you against the other driver."

Over time, such stress takes its toll on the body. Memory loss, anger, aggression, anxiety and pessimism have all been linked to chronic stress.

During a daily commute, blood pressure rises, pulse rates go up and the body releases the stress hormone cortisol, which, in high amounts, has been linked to cancer, hypertension and heart disease.

"When you're stressed and you walk into work, you have to have almost an hour of clearing stress hormones out of your body before you're back to normal," she said. "You're angry, you're aggressive and it really decreases productivity."

The commute home has the same effect ?\ only it's the family that feels the strain, Hall said. The good news? The mind and body rebound quickly.

"You can almost immediately change the way your body reacts," she said. "You can change the stress from negative stress to positive stress. A lot of times, the commute is your only time alone ?\ and it can be your time."

For Hall, what was once a chore is now something to look forward to. "When I commute into Atlanta, I love it. It's 11?^2 hours of alone time. One day I'm brushing up on my Spanish. The next day I'm listening to a book on tape. It's my time alone."

The trick is to view the car as a moving classroom.

"You could choose to learn a language, increase your vocabulary or learn a new profession. It's a great opportunity for personal advancement," she said.

Hall also recommends:

Singing: In the car, no one can hear your awful rendition of ABBA's "Dancing Queen," so pop in a CD of contagious tunes and belt out your favorites. Singing increases the brain's production of serotonin, which wards off anxiety and depression. Not a vocalist? Just listening to music has the same effect.

Meditation: Whether practicing yoga breathing techniques or brushing up on the wisdom of Zen masters via books on tape, meditation counters traffic-induced stress by lowering blood pressure and increasing the body's immune system. Meditation even helps improve memory.

Laughter: Slip in a CD of the latest antics from Larry the Cable Guy. Laughing helps improve blood pressure by increasing the artery diameter. Conversely, artery diameters decrease when the body is under stress. Laughter really is the best medicine.

Aromatherapy: Scent has the power to invigorate, relax, calm and revitalize. Indulge in essential oils for a quick pick-me-up at the next red light. Stimulating citrus scents keep drivers alert. Peppermint excites and awakens the senses. Lavender relaxes and calms frayed nerves.

Don't forget to unwind once you reach your destination. Find a calm, quiet place to sit and relax, take a walk before heading into the office or escape into a book for a few minutes before greeting the family.

For more information on taming commuter stress, visit www.thestressinstitute.com.