coping with stress:

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The problem with stress Stress isn’t always bad. In manageable doses, it can help you perform under pressure and motivate you to do your best. But when you’re constantly running in emergency mode, your mind, body, and relationships pay the price. Part 2 of this toolkit teaches you how to recognize when you’re overly stressed and quickly bring yourself back into balance. How do I know when I’m stressed? That may sound like a strange question, but many of us spend so much time overly stressed, worn down by relentless daily challenges, that we hardly realize there’s a problem at all. Being stressed out feels normal. When you're tired, your eyes feel heavy and you want to rest your head on your hands. When you're happy, you smile and laugh easily. And when you’re stressed, your body lets you know that, too; you just have to pay attention to your body's clues. Are you holding your breath? Is your breathing shallow? Are your muscles tense? Not only can your overly stressed state lead to serious mental and physical health problems, it can also take a toll on your relationships, at home, work, and school. Other clues that you're overly stressed include: Mental Clues Emotional Clues Memory problems Inability to concentrate Poor judgment Seeing only the negative Anxious or racing thoughts Constant worrying Moodiness Irritability or short temper Agitation, inability to relax Feeling overwhelmed Sense of loneliness and isolation Depression or general unhappiness Physical Clues Behavioral Clues Aches and pains Diarrhea or constipation Nausea, dizziness Chest pain, rapid heartbeat Loss of sex drive Frequent colds Eating more or less Sleeping too much or too little Isolating yourself from others Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing) What clues is your body giving you? How is stress affecting your mind, body, emotions, and behavior? Identify your body’s stress response Being able to manage and relieve stress quickly is the key to staying balanced, focused, and in control, no matter what challenges you face in life. As well as helping you cope with day-to-day stressors, employing quick stress relief techniques will also help you bring your nervous system into balance when practicing the meditation part of this toolkit. So what’s the best way to quickly relieve stress? That depends on your stress response—how you react externally when you’re stressed. What is your stress response? Internally, we all respond to stress the same: blood pressure rises, the heart pumps faster, and muscles constrict. When stressed, our bodies work hard and drain our immune system. Externally, however, people tend to respond to stress in three different ways: some become angry and agitated, others space out or withdraw, and still others freeze up. The best way to quickly relieve stress may relate to your specific stress response. How do you act when stressed? When it comes to managing and reducing stress quickly in the middle of a heated situation, it's important to be familiar with your specific stress response. Overexcited stress response – If you tend to become angry, agitated, or keyed up under stress, you will respond best to stress relief activities that quiet you down. Under excited stress response – If you tend to become depressed, withdrawn, or spaced out under stress, you will respond best to stress relief activities that are stimulating and that energize your nervous system. Frozen stress response (both overexcited and under excited) – If you tend to freeze—speeding up in some ways while slowing down in others—your challenge is to identify stress relief activities that provide both safety and stimulation to help you “reboot” your system. Not sure what your stress response is? Ask a close friend or loved one how your mood changes when you’re stressed. What is quick stress relief? Quick Stress Relief There are countless techniques for dealing with stress. Exercise, yoga, and meditation, for example, can all work wonders for relieving stress. But it may not be practical (or even possible) to go for a run or meditate when you’re frazzled by your morning commute, stuck in a stressful meeting at work, or fried from another argument with your spouse. For situations like these, you need something more accessible. That’s where quick stress relief comes in. The best way to reduce stress quickly and reliably is by taking a deep breath and using your senses—what you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch—or soothingmovement. By viewing a favorite photo, smelling a specific scent, listening to a favorite piece of music, tasting a piece of gum, or hugging a pet, for example, you can quickly relax and focus yourself. When you’re stressed, you can use your senses to soothe, comfort, and invigorate yourself quickly—in just a few minutes—and feel in control again. Of course, not everyone responds to each sensory experience in the same way. The key to quick stress relief is to discover the unique sensory experiences that work best for you. Do you already use quick stress relief? A lot of people do without thinking about it. Maybe you stroke your hair during an argument with your spouse to help you cool down? Or reach for a stick of gum when the traffic grinds to a halt on your commute? Be a stress-busting detective Everyone responds to sensory experiences a little differently. What some people find soothing and relaxing may be unpleasant or even stressful to others. For example, certain kinds of music may relax and calm one person but do nothing but irritate someone else. So, in order to master quick stress relief techniques, you need to first become a “stress-busting detective,” and track down the sensory experiences that quickly make you calm and alert. How will I know what works for me? Stress Busting Detective There is a difference between sensory experiences that are pleasant and sensory experiences that are intense and enjoyable enough to quickly make you feel both calm and alert. In the time it takes you to stroke a small smooth stone that you keep in your pocket, recall a few bars of music that move you, or the taste sensation of biting into a piece of dark chocolate, for example, you should feel your stress begin to ease, your head start to clear, and your sense of control returning. If it takes you six cups of tea and several hours to regain your balance, then try something else. If the effect is too subtle, keep investigating. Remember: If you get heated up or agitated under stress… look for activities that quiet you down. If you space out or shut down under stress… look for activities that are energizing. If you tend to get agitated in some ways while slowing down in others… look for activities that provide both safety and stimulation to help you “reboot” your system. Think back to what you did as a child to calm down. If you had a blanket or stuffed toy, for example, you might benefit from tactile stimulation. Experimenting with your senses Each time you feel stressed, try a different sensory experience and note how long it takes for your stress levels drop. Remember: you’re looking for something that works almost immediately. As you experiment, be as precise as possible. What is the most perfect image, the specific kind of sound, or type of movement that affects you the most? For example, if you’re a music lover, listen to many different artists and types of music until you find a phrase or a tune that instantly makes you feel more in control of yourself—just by thinking of it. Use the examples listed below as a jumping-off point. Give your imagination free reign and come up with additional sensory experiences to try. Using sight, sound, and scent Sight Girl looking at flowers If you’re a visual person, try to relieve stress by surrounding yourself with soothing and uplifting images. If there’s nothing visual within reach, try closing your eyes, taking a deep breath, and imagining a soothing image. Keep a cherished photo on your phone or in your wallet—of your child, pet, a fun night out with friends—or a postcard from a memorable vacation. Watch a relaxing desktop screensaver with a soothing uplifting image. If you have a pleasant view from your window, spend a few moments gazing outside. If movement relaxes you, choose chairs that are movable like a rocking chair. Sound Listening to sea shell Are you a music lover? Or a nature lover? Experiment with the following: The right music can lower your blood pressure and help you relax. Keep the music that works for you on your phone, computer, iPod, or play it in the car when traffic has you stressed. No music at hand? Trying singing or humming a favorite tune. Tune in to a soundtrack of nature, such as crashing waves, wind rustling the trees, birds singing. If the real thing is on your doorstep, even better. Buy a small fountain, so you can enjoy the soothing sound of running water in your home or office. When stress hits, close your eyes and take a few minutes to focus on the calming trickle. Keep the recorded voice of a loved one on your mobile phone. Just the sound of someone special’s voice can help ease tension. Scent Smelling a flower Scent can be a powerful memory trigger. The smell of freshly cut grass might remind you of your childhood or a particular perfume might remind you of a romantic partner. If the memory is a pleasant, reassuring one, you can use it to help calm or invigorate you. Experiment with essential oils. Many people find lavender, tea tree, or orange blossom relaxing. Simply put a few drops in your palm or on a tissue and inhale. Light a scented candle or burn some incense. Keep plants or fresh flowers in your home or workspace. Reach for a fruit basket. Sniffing citrus fruit, such as orange or lemon, can help ease tension. Spritz on a favorite perfume or cologne, or one that reminds you of someone special. Using touch, taste, and movement Touch Touching a sheet Experiment with your sense of touch, playing with different tactile sensations. Try curling your toes. Pet a dog or cat, or hug a friend. It can lower your blood pressure and dissolve stress. Squeeze a stress ball. Squeeze your fingers. A piece of ice is handy. Hold it for a second. Cool sensations can help calm your whole body. Wear clothing that feels soft or silky against your skin. Taste Girl tasting melon Slowly savoring a favorite treat can be very relaxing, but mindless eating will only add to your stress and your waistline. The key is to indulge your sense of taste mindfully and in moderation. Eat slowly, focusing on the feel of the food in your mouth and the taste on your tongue. Chewing a piece of gum can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Indulge in a small piece of dark chocolate. Take a bite of a ripe piece of fruit, like a mango or pineapple for a taste of the tropics. Swallow a few mouthfuls of your favorite tea or coffee. Keep crunchy snacks like celery, carrots, or trail mix nearby. Movement Hand squeezing ball If you tend to shut down when you’re under stress, stress-relieving activities that get you moving may be particularly helpful. Briefly step outside, walk around the block, savor the sunshine…or the rain. Repetitive motions like brushing your hair or knitting can help you relax. Bounce or tap your heels. Stretch or roll your head in circles. Sit on something you can bounce on. Need more help finding what works for you? Ask people you know what they do to stay focused under pressure—it could work for you too. Using quick stress relief in your daily life Quick stress relief at home Baby photo album Kitchen. Cool the kitchen commotion by breathing in the scent of every ingredient you use—even if you’re just opening cans. Play lively music. Light candles. Sleep. Too stressed to snooze? Try using a noise machine for a background sound of ocean waves or a waterfall. Or use a humidifier with a diffuser to deliver a light scent in the air. Children and relationships. Prevent losing your cool during a spousal spat by taking deep breaths or squeezing the tips of your thumb and forefinger together. When your toddler has a tantrum, rub lotion into your hands and then breathe in the scent. Create a sanctuary. If clutter is upsetting, take 10 minutes each day to tidy and organize. Paint the walls with a fresh coat of your favorite calming color. Display photos and images that make you feel happy. Throw open the curtains and let in natural light whenever possible. Quick stress relief at work Girl drinking from cup On the computer. Stretch or do knee-bends in 10-minute intervals. Wrap a soft scarf around your neck. Suck on a peppermint. Play soothing background music. Meetings. During stressful sessions, stay connected to your breath. Massage the tips of your fingers. Wiggle your toes. Sip tea or coffee. On the phone. Inhale something energizing, like lemon, ginger, peppermint or coffee beans. While talking, stand up or pace back and forth to burn off excess energy. Conduct phone business outside whenever possible. Lunch breaks. Take a walk around the block or in the parking lot. Watch a relaxing or funny video online. Have a quick chat with someone you love. Your workspace. Place family photos on your desk and display images and mementos that remind you of your life outside the office. Where are your stress hotspots—your daily commute, visiting family? Which quick stress relief techniques can help you cope? Make quick stress relief a habit It’s not easy to remember to use your senses in the middle of a mini—or not so mini—crisis. At first, it will feel easier to just give into pressure and tense up. But with time—and lots of practice—calling upon your senses when you’re stressed will become second nature. Learning to use your senses to quickly manage stress is a little like learning to drive or play golf. You don’t master the skill in one lesson; you have to practice. Once you have a variety of sensory tools you can depend on, you’ll be able to handle even the toughest of situations. Here are tips to help you make quick stress relief a habit: Summer road trip car vacation Start small. Instead of testing your quick stress relief tools on a source of major stress, start with a predictable low-level source of stress, like cooking dinner at the end of the day or sitting down to balance your checkbook. Identify and target. Think of just one low-level stressor that you know will occur several times a week, such as commuting. Vow to target that particular stressor with quick stress relief every time. After a few weeks, target a second stressor. After a few weeks more, target a third stressor and so on. Test-drive sensory input. Experiment with as much sensory input as possible. For example, if you are practicing quick stress relief on your commute to work, bring a scented handkerchief with you one day, try music another day, and then try sucking a mint the next day. Don't force it. If something doesn’t work, move on until you find your best fit. Talk about it. Verbalizing your quick stress relief experiments will help you integrate it into your life. It's bound to start a fascinating conversation—everyone relates to the topic of stress. Try using A stress diary to keep track of your progress.