You’ve probably heard that prolonged stress can be very bad for your health. It can affect your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness; it’s often linked to high blood pressure and heart disease; and it can worsen the symptoms of conditions like asthma, COPD, acne, and psoriasis. On a more positive note, however, stress is also one of those things that you can manage—with willpower and a lot of practice.

Danielle Messick, a licensed professional counselor, noted that your attitude plays a central role in your ability to combat stress. She said, “We often bring stress upon ourselves just by our own points of view. For example, people who see the glass as half empty or approach challenges in life with a negative attitude are going to find it a lot more difficult to manage stress.”

Therefore, the first step to managing stress is to change your approach. Begin by taking note of your negative thoughts or behaviors, possibly even jotting them down in a journal. Then look for recurring patterns. For example, do you have a tendency to focus on the negative things that happen to you each day? Do you often blow things out of proportion or see everything as good or bad, right or wrong, black or white with no middle ground?

Now that you have identified some behaviors that you would like to change, you’ll need to work toward developing some new, more positive habits. Try to catch yourself each time you have a negative thought and reframe it in a more positive light. Look for the humor in situations and spend more time with people who look at life with a positive attitude. 

If someone in your life is the source of a great deal of your stress, one of the best things you can do to change the situation is to be a good example. It certainly doesn’t help if you contribute to the problem with negativity of your own. Danielle then suggested looking “for a good opportunity to communicate your feelings to the person who is causing you so much stress—a time when you can talk patiently, kindly, and respectfully. Talk about how you feel and avoid blaming the other person. Be willing to accept some responsibility and to forgive.”

Of course, it’s usually a good idea to deal with stress while it is still manageable, rather than waiting until it has gotten out of control. While we can’t eliminate all the stresses in our lives, these tips will go a long way toward helping us manage the ones that are within our reach.

From an interview with:
Danielle Messick, MS

Written by:
Kay Jones Lewis
Editor
Wellness Coalition America