Useful Tips for Managing Stress and Anxiety
March 15, 2011
Stress and anxiety affect all of us. Whether it’s a professional deadline, technology issue, personal relationship, economic hardship or parenting challenge we are all at risk for reaching the point of emotional over-load. In my mind I imagine a temperature gauge on an old fashioned steam engine heading towards the danger zone (those of you living in the digital age will have to trust me on this one).
What I do know is that finding the ability to make a good intervention or decision is almost impossible when you want to scream at the person or object you are currently frustrated with. It’s easy at work to remind staff of the value of therapeutic crisis intervention, specifically, the Stress Model of Crisis. What we sometimes lose sight of is the value of applying this wisdom to our “other” non-work related lives. So, take a moment or two and remind yourself that you have “triggers” that can agitate you. Your agitation is trying to tell you something is not right. Consider the advice you would give a student or individual you provide support for:
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Slow down
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Take a deep breath
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Find a quiet place
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Speak with an “inside” voice
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Ask for help
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Take a break