Practical Approaches to Coping with Stress

Last month I wrote about three strategies that often help impart stress reduction. In continuing with this theme, here are three more that frequently arise when it comes to practical components of coping with stress:

The first is social connectedness. It’s amazing how “stuck” individuals become in their routine. Don’t get me wrong, structure is good – we, especially kiddos, need it. That said, when people tend not to stray from the day-to-day, fearing that “things will fall to the wayside,” this can often lead to increased stress. Allowing for an impromptu meet-up with a friend, even though one’s schedule may not “allow” for it, can prove beneficial in reducing stress. I can’t tell you how many clients have said, “I didn’t know how much I needed that,” after a connecting/reconnecting with friends. A night out with friends or spontaneous late-night movie with a partner is often a verified remedy for stress. In perilous waters, being on a life raft with a group is better than being alone.

The second stress reducer is a sense of things better. This sounds simple, but is often difficult to implement. Once again, it’s easy to become stuck in the now, and it can be difficult to realize that, whatever the current stress, it’s probably not always going to be this way. When clients are able to recognize that their “now” is temporary, an awareness of a future (either near or in the distance) that’s not as bad as the present, tends to bring about some amount – and often, it’s quite a lot – of diminished stress. For fear of the sanctimonious context/tone, I tend to steer clear of proverbial clichés, especially in session. However, if there’s ever one that has served me, it’s “This too shall pass.”

The third, and possibly most important, is outlets for frustration. Ever seen Office Space? Milton, whose stress level surpassed the average employee, didn’t appear to have many outlets for his frustration – and he set the company on fire. A lot of people assume that the go-to for frustration release is working out, and I would tend to agree. It’s no secret that cardio exercise begets well-being by providing much-needed endorphins to mitigate the effects of cortisol – the stress hormone. However, there are other means of stress relief as well, such as art, music, carving out time to spend with friends (see number one above), and, of course, therapy. Life is full of frustration(s). Outlets are indispensable when it comes to maintaining a sense of balance in a stressful world.

Written by Ann Kellogg, MA, LPC