Stress Relief Kit for Boomers |
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More Stress Relief Strategies
You may also find you can successfully control stress with self-disclosure, a technique popularly known as "venting." Self-disclosure has been correlated with better health and longevity in various scientific studies. "Discussing your troubles with a friend or seeing a psychotherapist can help you calm down, raise self-esteem, lower blood pressure, and experience other health benefits," says Dr. Leyden-Rubenstein.
The role that positive affirmations may play in promoting health is more controversial. "Affirmations don't acknowledge the persistent underlying negativity that is often the source of the problem," says Dr. Lambrou. When people repeat affirmations that they may not entirely believe, such as, "I deserve to be stress-free," Dr. Lambrou theorizes, "they may recognize this internal conflict and tell themselves, "I just don't believe it." This in turn sabotages the affirmation by reinforcing the negative thought.
Instead of saying affirmations, Dr. Lambrou advises making "Intention Statements," which let you state your goal with self-acceptance but also acknowledge the counterproductive thoughts that may chatter below the surface. For example: "I totally and completely accept myself, even if I don't deserve to be stress-free." "There's a big difference," he claims. "The even-if assuages the nagging doubts at the back of the mind."
However you choose to manage stress, experts agree that controlling it on a daily basis requires you to stay aware of stress without reacting emotionally to it. As Santorelli explains, "We can all benefit from thinking more flexibly about what kind of behavior is called for at each moment and from responding so that we thrive, rather than merely survive."
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