Sign In



Remember Me

MedlinePlus®

A service of the National Library of Medicine.

Resource Library

Powered by:   Print This Page   Add To My Folder

This information is provided by an independent source. Merck & Co., Inc. is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.

Krames Index Print This Article Print This Article
Elder Care
<  Previous     Page 15 of 16      Next  >
<<  First Page        Last Page  >>

Managing Stress
The more doctors know about the mind/body connection, the more convinced they become that stress plays a major role in serious illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Since stress is an inevitable part of life, it's important to learn how to cope with it in health-promoting ways.

There are many stress reduction techniques available. Most are relatively easy and inexpensive to learn and take only a small amount of time to use. Some people have success with biofeedback, a technique that teaches voluntary control of physical reactions to stress with the help of electric monitors. Others prefer less high-tech approaches like deep breathing, guided imagery, meditation, or music therapy. A number of organizations teach stress reduction techniques, but you can also try some of them on your own.

One of the easiest stress reduction techniques is deep breathing. Under stress, the diaphragm tightens and breathing becomes shallow. For belly breathing, fill your chest and abdomen with air. Allow your breath to push out your belly. Hold for a moment, then exhale all the air by pulling in your belly muscles. Breathe slowly and rhythmically. Repeat four or five times whenever you feel stressed.

Stress experts also tell us that much of our stress is self-induced; that is, our reactions to a situation rather than the situation itself causes the stress. Often we unnecessarily worry or let our imagination build minor inconveniences into insurmountable problems. Stress management experts suggest these tips for keeping our reactions as stress-less as possible:
  • Keep it in perspective. Most of our fears never come to pass. We worry needlessly. We tend to overdramatize situations or exaggerate others' reactions. When confronted with a stressful situation, ask yourself: Has this happened before? How did I handle it and what did I learn from that situation?
  • What's the worst possible outcome?
  • What else can I do?
  • What advice would I give a friend in this situation?
  • Five years from now, will I remember this event?
  • Use positive self-dialogue. Positive "self-talk" can help us accept and cope with negative situations. Remind yourself: "Someday I'll laugh about this." "Every cloud has a silver lining." "It's a learning experience."


  • Keep a positive attitude. While negative emotions have their place, too often we let the negative emotions overwhelm us and take over during stressful times. Try to take a positive approach. If you focus on the positive side, you're more likely to find solutions and your positive outlook can also help others cope during times of stress.


  • Develop a stress-resistant personality. People who are chronically overstressed tend of have common traits: unrealistically high expectations, inability to relax, constant dissatisfaction, and always in a hurry. Subtle shifts in your perspective can help you create a stress-resistant personality. Try to accept the fact that reality often falls short of our expectations. Slow down and take time out to relax. People who are rested and relaxed are better able to handle stress. View problems as challenges to overcome. Look for the possibilities in every problem.
 
<  Previous      Page 15 of 16      Next  >
<<  First Page        Last Page  >>

This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care.
Only your doctor can diagnose and treat a medical problem.
©2003 The StayWell Company, 1100 Grundy Lane, San Bruno, CA 94066-3030.
www.staywell.com 800 333-3032. All rights reserved.
Print This Page   Add To My Folder

Last Revised 07/2009 20351091(1)-12/03-EBS-CON