Learning to react to stress in a healthy way

Stress is not just about what is happening to you. It also depends on how you react to stressors. If you don't make changes, long-lasting stress, called chronic stress, can build up. That can lead to problems such as missing work, avoiding people or feeling upset easily. A healthy way to deal with stress is to focus on what you can control. For example, you might ask for help, do fewer tasks or let go of trying to be perfect when you can. Taking small steps such as these can help you feel less overwhelmed.

Your thoughts also affect how you feel and act. If you always think the worst is going to happen, your stress grows. Instead, try to think in a more balanced way. Remind yourself of what is realistic. Accept what you can't change. And if your mind starts to spiral, shift your focus to something else. Over time, thinking this way and making steady choices can help lower your stress and improve how you handle it.

Stressful events are facts of life. And you may not be able to change your current situation. But these steps can help you manage the impact that stressful events have on you.

In addition to approaching stress in a healthy way, there are also plenty of simple, everyday ways you can cope with stress.

Try these stress management tips:

• Start with the basics. Eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. Get plenty of sleep too.
• Do relaxation exercises such as yoga, deep breathing, massage or meditation.
• Keep a journal. Write about your thoughts or what you're grateful for in your life. Your journal also may be a place where you write down what's causing your stress and ways you might manage it.
• Turn off screens before sleep. Give your eyes and mind a break from computers and other devices for at least an hour before you go to bed. A break from social media is especially important.
• Take time for hobbies, such as reading or listening to music. Or watch your favorite show or movie.
• Foster healthy friendships, and talk with friends and family who care about and support you.
• Have a sense of humor. Find ways to include humor and laughter in your life, such as watching funny movies or looking at joke websites.
• Volunteer in your community.
• Organize and focus on what you need to get done at home and work and remove tasks that aren't needed.
• Find new ways to look at challenges. You can't always get rid of stress, but by thinking about a stressful situation differently, you can change how it affects you.
• Seek professional counseling. A counselor can help you learn specific coping skills to manage stress.

Try not to rely on ways of coping that can harm your health, such as using alcohol, tobacco or drugs, or overeating to cope. If you're worried that your use of these products has gone up or changed due to stress, talk to your healthcare professional.