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Stress management: How do you react during stressful situations?
Evaluating how you deal with stress is the first step in effective stress management. Look for these behavior patterns.
By Mayo Clinic staffNo wonder you're stressed. You're doing more with fewer resources every day at work, and deadlines lurk around every corner. Then when you get home, you take out your frustrations on your family. Weekends are booked solid with household chores and errands. It's been months since you spent an evening alone with your partner.
So how do you handle it? Understanding how you currently respond to stress — for better or worse — is the foundation for successful future stress management.
Reactions to stress vary
Some people seem to take everything in stride. Their naturally laid-back attitudes shine through in every situation. Another deadline? Bring it on. You needed to be there 10 minutes ago? OK, let's go. The dishwasher is leaking? No problem, it'll be a simple repair.
Others get anxious at the first sign of trouble. They pace the floor or have difficulty concentrating on the task at hand. An interruption or change in plans may cause a stir.
Of course, these examples are extremes. Most people have stress responses that fall somewhere in the middle. When you feel confident, you're likely to take new stressors in stride. If you feel cornered or unprepared, your stress level may rise.
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