MENTAL WELLNESS: STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
Stress Management Approaches
There are three major approaches to manage stress:
- Acceptance-based:
where we accept that we have no control over the input
to the stress and focus solely on the output.
- Action-based:
where we divert our focus by changing the environment,
a common interrupt pattern.
- Emotion-based:
Closely related to the acceptance based approach by
changing our interpretations by changing our expectations.
Also includes using mind relaxing tools to induce
a more positive emotional state.
Action Based
If you do have the power to change a situation, but
feel overwhelmed at the magnitude of the task, using
an action based approach is feasible.
Exercise
Regular exercise can reduce your physiological reaction
to stress. It also strengthens your heart and increases
the blood supply to it, directly affecting your vulnerability
to heart disease. Exercise helps you disengage your
ego from the stress response. Instead of concentrating
on how poorly off you are and how stressed, you are
forced to focus on the immediate goal – pushing
another 2 reps; one more high intensity sprint; holding
that stretch another 10 seconds.
Doing a physical task that needs attention –
anything! As long as it absorbs your concentration and
gets you moving. Action leads to more action. Achievement
leads to seeking further achievement. It’s the
feel good factor coming into play.
At the end of the exercise session you feel like you
have done something worthwhile – a goal has been
reached today.
Diet
An anti stress diet is generally designed to counteract
and reduce the negative biochemical and physiological
effects of stress. Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and many
over-the-counter and prescription drugs may also cause
physiological problems and irritate us physically or
mentally.
For more information on anti-stress nutrition and nutritional
supplements, including quick fixes to get you through
the work day.
Goals and Action Plans
Slice a resolution to the situation into bite size
pieces, small enough that you feel you DO have the resources
to complete one step at a time. This reduces the sense
of being overwhelmed by a situation that appears way
too big for you to manage. Only focus on the next step,
one step at a time.
Next: Emotional
Based Stress Management Techniques
Stress Index | Happiness |
Sex | Money | Stress
| Burn-Out | Affect on Health
| Stress & Performance | Managing
Stress | Action & Stress | Emotion
& Stress | Anti-stress Nutrition |
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| Stress Response Methods | Depression
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