Stressful situations in life are unavoidable, and it is common to feel stressed at times.

Stressis a bodily response to certain life circumstances, resulting in physical,mental, andemotionalsymptoms.

Both stress management practices and lifestyle changes can help combat acute and chronic stress.

Young woman lying on a bed, covering her face with one hand, while holding a yellow cell phone in the other hand above her head.

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Stress management is crucial because it can affect your relationships, career, and other areas of your life.

It may not always be easy to identify stress, especially if your stress levels increase slowly over time.

Making these connections can go a long way in prioritizing changes that promote stress management.

Positive Self-Talk

Becoming aware of the stress response, including thoughts and beliefs, is essential.

Negative thoughts can lead to stress.

They can also be acknowledged and replaced with more neutral or positive thoughts.

Relaxation techniques can help, which may include breathing exercises and visualizations.

Relaxation Techniques

it’s possible for you to use relaxation techniques to counteract the stress response.

Some examples include:

The best relaxation techniques are the ones that you enjoy and can do consistently.

Diaphragmatic Breathing

Thediaphragmis a muscle located between the chest and abdomen.

This practice may also be called “belly breathing” or “deep breathing.”

To do this, inhale slowly, imagining pulling air into the stomach.

Limiting Stressful Stimuli

Stress management techniques are about stress reduction and stress prevention.

Limiting exposure to stressors can prevent stress levels from increasing.

Even opening or looking out a window can help.

Moving Your Body

Daily exercise has been proven to help in chronic stress management.

Therapists, counselors, andpsychologistscan providetalk therapyand teach you effective stress management techniques.

Participating in cognitive behavioral therapy can help you effectively manage your stress and can be done face-to-face or remotely.

Left unmanaged, stress can lead to adverse health effects.

you could build stress management skills that you rely on to reduce the negative impacts of stress.

Incorporating these techniques into your daily life can help manage and prevent chronic stress.

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