Ways to cope with stress Quizlet

Keep a sense of humor.

A sense of humor gives you the ability to laugh at a situation rather than at yourself or someone else. Sometimes tension can be eased when you can think of or say something lighthearted in a difficult situation. It's always important to consider the circumstances, however, because humor may not be appropriate in all stressful situations.

Make healthy choices.

Doing something that's healthy for your body or mind when you're feeling stressed can help you feel better. Keeping your body healthy by eating nutritious foods, getting enough physical activity and avoiding tobacco, alcohol and other drugs can also lower your overall stress level or help keep stress under control.

Take action when you can.

If the stressful situation is one you have some control over, taking action—even if it's just a small step—can help you feel more empowered and capable. And, remember, you always have control over your own choices, even if you can't control the source of the stress.

Resolve or eliminate the source of stress.

If you can figure out where the stress is coming from or what's causing it, you may be able to take steps to resolve a situation or change how you respond to it. Identify the stressors in your life and see which ones you can avoid or deal with before they become too stressful.

Get support.

Talking with a friend or a trusted adult can ease troubled feelings and help you figure out solutions. Positive social connections help people maintain their emotional health and experience less stress in their lives.

Identify how to prevent stress in the future.

This might mean learning how to manage your time, or thinking ahead about what needs to be accomplished to complete a project or a task to help keep you focused and organized

Understand your feelings.

Writing, drawing or some other creative way of expressing what you feel can often help a person work through difficult feelings. Keeping a journal, writing a poem or song, painting a picture or making a collage are some ideas you could try.

Find ways to relax.

You've learned about the effects of stress on the body. Doing things to slow your heart rate and breathing and relax tense muscles can help relieve the physical stress response. You can also find ways to relax or refocus your mind on something other than the stressful situation.