{"id":110341,"date":"2025-04-19T14:19:01","date_gmt":"2025-04-19T14:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/?post_type=news&p=110341"},"modified":"2025-04-19T14:19:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-19T14:19:01","slug":"stress-awareness-month-finding-healthy-coping-strategies","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/stress-awareness-month-finding-healthy-coping-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"Stress Awareness Month: Finding healthy coping strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"

SALT LAKE CITY \u2014 We all experience stress, whether from work, school or relationships. Stress is a natural response to a challenge or threat, but prolonged stress can negatively impact your physical and mental well-being.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a part of normal life. It\u2019s not something that we should run away from, but we do need to be aware of the difference between healthy or productive stress and unhealthy stress,\u201d Dr. Tim Fowles said, a clinical psychologist and the Health Services Research Director at Intermountain\u2019s Healthcare Delivery Institute. \u201cIf you\u2019re in traffic or you have a meeting with your boss or you have a blind date, these are all normal places where you experience some stress, and that\u2019s okay. It\u2019s a problem when it becomes overwhelming or chronic.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to The American Institute of Stress<\/strong><\/a>, 77% of people regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress, including headaches, dizziness, gut issues and fatigue. If left unchecked, stress can lead to more serious complications.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSome people, unfortunately, find themselves in that environment of chronic stress, and it can lead to heart disease, anxiety, depression, a host of health problems,\u201d Fowles said.<\/p>\n

While scrolling on social media or indulging in a sweet treat might provide temporary stress relief, Fowles said it\u2019s more effective to prioritize a healthy routine, like exercising, eating right and getting quality sleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cExercise doesn\u2019t feel as good as chocolate in the short term, but if you stick with it, it pays big dividends,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Also, Fowles adds, spend time connecting and socializing with others, practice mindfulness and find creative outlets.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of those things help you to kind of balance your life in a way that actually helps your stress response when you need it,\u201d Fowles said.<\/p>\n

Check in with yourself and your stress levels often. If your coping mechanisms aren\u2019t working, it may be time to seek additional support. Fowles suggests talking to your healthcare provider about any mental well-being concerns.<\/p>\n

Resources<\/b><\/b><\/div>\n