Think about the ways you currently manage and cope with stress in your life. Your stress journal can help you identify them. Are your coping strategies healthy or unhealthy, helpful or unproductive? Unfortunately, many people cope with stress in ways that compound the problem.
Unhealthy ways of coping with stress
These coping strategies may temporarily reduce stress, but they cause more damage in the long run:
- Smoking
- Drinking too much
- Overeating or undereating
- Zoning out for hours in front of the TV or computer
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities
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- Using pills or drugs to relax
- Sleeping too much
- Procrastinating
- Filling up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems
- Taking out your stress on others (lashing out, angry outbursts, physical violence)
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Related
Dr. Stacey Gillis graduated from Life Chiropractic College West in 2001, after completing her undergraduate studies in biology at University of California, Santa Barbara. Her practice is focused on helping patients, from infants to seniors, achieve optimal health and wellness through natural and painless chiropractic care. Dr. Gillis is frequently featured as a guest speaker for numerous corporations and civic groups lecturing on various health and chiropractic topics. Visit Dr. Gillis in our Costa Mesa Clinic.
Think about the ways you currently manage and cope with stress in your life. Your stress journal can help you identify them. Are your coping strategies healthy or unhealthy, helpful or unproductive? Unfortunately, many people cope with stress in ways that compound the problem.