Stress Management

OVERVIEW

Stress can lead to improved health and productivity - or it can lead to anxiety, depression, obesity, immune dysfunction and more. Helping patients recognize negative stress responses, identify coping mechanisms and reduction techniques leads to improved wellbeing.

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CME/CE

Mindfulness | Core Competencies

Mental Health & Emotional Well-Being | Core Competencies

Transforming Trauma with Lifestyle Medicine

Physician & Health Professional Well-being

American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine CME/CE Article Quiz:

Personal Health Practices and Perceptions of Lifestyle Counseling and Preventive Services Among Residents

Research

Article from the Journal of Family Practice: Lifestyle Medicine and Stress Management

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Not all stress is bad for us; in fact, some stress can be helpful for completing important projects, studying for an exam, speaking in public, or accomplishing challenging goals.

On the other hand, distress or negative stress is the type of stress that can cause short- or long-term anxiety, decreased performance and lead to poor mental and physical health.

Distress can be caused by many factors that differ for everyone. It is important to recognize the things in your life that cause distress, so you can come up with a plan to manage or cope with or view situations differently.

Look at events or triggers from a different angle. Consider “Is there another way to look at this situation?” and remember it’s not helpful to focus on what cannot be changed. Try to improve your mood by looking at what is going well in life. Focus on your accomplishments or what you have overcome.

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· The chronic stress of modern society has made it more difficult to practice healthy lifestyle habits and can exacerbate health issues such as cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, weight gain, etc.

· Chronic stress can cause poorer overall quality of life, decreased job and school performance, and lead to mental and physical health issues.¹³

· Communities of color are disproportionally affected by stress caused by bias and discrimination in addition to the social determinants or drivers of health,¹⁴ which are the conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play.¹⁴

· Stress management is an important component of care in working towards whole-person health.¹²

· There are many things that can help manage stress and improve overall health. ACLM suggests partnering with an interdisciplinary healthcare team to determine a plan of action for helping patients reduce their stress levels.

· Such things as planning ahead, budgeting, leaving earlier from work, and being proactive tend to reduce preventable stress.

12. American Psychological Association. APA Professional Practice Guidelines. American Psychological Association. Apa.org. January 2010. Updated April 2021. Accessed September 12, 2022. https://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines

13. American Psychological Association. Stress effects on the body. American Psychological Association. Apa.org. November 1, 2018. Accessed September 12, 2022. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body

14. Jones SCT, Anderson RE, Gaskin-Wasson AL, Sawyer BA, Applewhite K, Metzger IW. From "crib to coffin": Navigating coping from racism-related stress throughout the lifespan of Black Americans. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2020;90(2):267-282. http://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000430