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Manage Stress and Build Resilience

It's hard to avoid stress. Work, money, current events, and the hassles of everyday life are just a few of the things that can cause stress. Long-term, or chronic, stress is linked to several health conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and anxiety.

It's important to learn how to manage stress so it doesn't overwhelm you. The first step is to recognize your body's signals. These could include headaches, poor concentration, or feeling on edge. Once you identify these signs, work to counter their effects. Some people benefit from deep breathing, going for a walk, or writing down their thoughts.

Whatever works for you, make taking care of yourself part of your daily routine. Work in time to exercise, eat healthy foods, and get good quality sleep. This will help make you more resilient to life's stresses.

Experts also recommend staying socially connected. Being in touch with family and friends can combat stress and depression. Video chats and other technology make staying in touch easier than ever.

If you can, also try to see problems a different way. Experts call this reframing. Stuck in traffic? It may be an opportunity to enjoy some music or catch up on a podcast. Practice reframing the situation, and you'll likely get better at it over time.

Finally, if stress is affecting your wellbeing, talk to a health professional. They can help guide you through times of severe stress.

Wein, H. (Ed.). (2020, October). Health capsule: Manage stress and build resilience. NIH News in Health. Bethesda, MD: U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://newsinhealth.nih.gov

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