Coping with Stress through Stress Therapy

Are you feeling like stress has taken over your life?

Here are a few tips on how to manage your stress and get back to your normal mental status:

  1. Exercise – whether it’s a brisk 20-minute walk outside or going to the gym for a full workout, exercise releases endorphins, which interact with receptors in your brain to reduce stress and make you feel good.
  2. Deep breathing – start by inhaling deeply, filling up your lungs and belly with air while counting to 6. Exhale deeply, like you are fogging up a window on a cold winter day, counting to 8. Exhale longer than you inhale, because the exhalation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps you put on the brakes (i.e., relax).
  3. Mindfulness – if your thoughts start to get pulled away from staying focused, bring yourself back in the room or wherever you are at that moment; consciously notice your surroundings and start describing what you see, take your shoes and socks off and feel the ground below you: what is the texture like? And what does temperature feel like?
  4. Discuss your problems with someone who can help you reduce your stress and make you feel better.