Methods For Stress Management

Dr. Robert Fettgather is a lifelong meditator and has also served as a stress management trainer, certified by the Institute for Personality and Ability Testing.  

To reduce the stress of daily life, you can try reframing or examining a stressful or negative facet of life and describing it in a neutral or positive way. In effect, the new and positive "frame" holding the stressor allows for a different and healthier view. This act may help you distance yourself from the emotions invested in the negative experience and gain a new vantage point.  Another effective way to reduce stress is to avoid escape behaviors such as substance abuse, excessive eating, or uncontrolled spending. Instead, emphasize healthy mental processes such as mindfulness as a foundation for working through life challenges. 

Meditation practice promotes emotional health and helps control anxiety including job related anxiety. Short guided meditations practiced multiple times per week have been shown to benefit workers struggling with job stress. 

At work or home, cultivating a forgiving attitude, even when someone does something mean-spirited or harmful, promotes stress reduction.  For example, if someone cuts you off on the highway, let go, take a few deep breaths, and repeat an affirmation such as “It’s fine, I am safe and uninjured, let’s move on.”