Stress Management

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Wellness Website banner Stress Management

Stress is a natural part of life, and not all of it is bad. It is the reaction of the body and mind to meet everyday challenges and demands. Stress results in racing thoughts, decreased concentration, and feeling overwhelmed. It can increase worry, sadness, and irritability. Physically, stress can increase your pulse and breath, cause headaches, stomach aches, and muscle tension, disrupt sleep, and weaken the immune system. Long-term stress can result in health problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Managing stress can improve sleep, mood, and relationships.

Stress can be difficult to avoid. You can work to prevent stress by:

  • Consistently taking care of your body by getting quality sleep, engaging in physical activity, eating right, and taking your medication
  • Avoiding substance use
  • Routinely engaging in enjoyable and relaxing activities
  • Connecting with people who keep you calm and provide emotional support
  • Setting limits and refusing extra requests for your time
  • Maintaining routines
  • Planning ahead
  • Being organized
  • Prioritizing tasks
  • Breaking down overwhelming tasks into manageable ones
  • Managing time effectively
  • Avoiding procrastination
  • Maximizing study strategies
  • Balancing electronic usage
  • Taking breaks when needed
  • Accepting that you cannot control everything
  • Letting go of worry about situations you can’t change

Stress Management is utilizing techniques to help you relax and manage stress levels to improve everyday functioning. It begins with noticing when you feel stressed. You can then choose to either change the situation or change your reaction to it.

Strategies to manage stress include:

  • Enjoyable distractions
  • Soothing activities
  • Exercise
  • Music
  • Art
  • Aromatherapy
  • Massage
  • Healthy snacks
  • Deep Breathing
  • Progressive Muscle Relaxation
  • Guided Imagery
  • Mindfulness
  • Yoga
  • Tai Chi
  • Meditation
  • Biofeedback

To learn more, please visit Wellness and Health Promotion Service's stress management locations.

For further assistance managing stress, please contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 618-453-5371.

Please fill out the request workshop online form to request programming.

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