How Stress Can Be Good for You

u003colu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/why-stress-management-important/u0022u003eWhy Stress Management is Importantu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/stress-reduction-strategies/u0022u003eStress Reduction Tips u0026amp; Strategiesu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/how-stress-can-be-good/u0022u003eHow Stress Can Be Good for Youu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003e

u003ch5u003eu003cstrongu003eExercises:u003c/strongu003eu003c/h5u003ernThere will be exercises associated with each lesson that you will be able to u003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Stress-Management-Worksheets-compressed.pdfu0022u003edownload hereu003c/au003e or u003ca href=u0022https://recovery.force.com/app/s/login/?ec=302u0026amp;startURL=%2Fapp%2Fs%2Fu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopener external nofollowu0022u003eaccess through our portal.u003c/au003ernu003ch5u003eu003cstrongu003eMedically-reviewed articles:u003c/strongu003eu003c/h5u003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/#Who_Is_at_Risk_For_Stressu0022u003eWho Is at Risk For Stress?u003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/stress-statistics/u0022u003eHow Common Is Stress?u003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/stress-myths/u0022u003e9 Common Myths About Stressu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/harmful-effects-of-stress/u0022u003ePhysical Effects of Stressu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/stress-management-techniques/u0022u003e10 Stress Management Techniquesu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernu003ch5u003eu003cstrongu003eWebinars:u003c/strongu003eu003c/h5u003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/professionals/webinars/critical-events-stress-management/u0022u003eCritical Events and Stress Managementu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/professionals/webinars/secondary-trauma-vs-vicarious/u0022u003eSecondary Trauma vs Vicarious Traumau003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e

u003ch3u003eStress Management Part 3u003c/h3u003ernu003ciu003eIn this lesson we will be going over how stress can be good for you.u003c/iu003ernrnWe know that too much stress is harmful.rnrnBut sometimes you can use that jolt of adrenaline that triggers your fight-or-flight reaction to move forward in a healthy, positive way.rnrnResearch has shown that stress can heighten awareness, speed up thinking and improve performance.rnrnStress can help you thrive, be brave and improve work and life performance. It can give you that extra edge that pushes you to the next level.rnrnBut, it’s a balancing act. Too much stress and you experience stress symptoms, like irritability, fatigue, headaches or anxiety. Just enough stress and you can flourish.rnrnYou can harness the fight-or-flight response to your advantage. Use these approaches to manage and capitalize on your stress reaction.rnu003colu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cbu003eu003c/bu003e     u003cbu003eChange your mindset.u003c/bu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003ernYou notice your stress reaction is triggered every time you think about going to work Monday morning, or out with your significant other on Friday night.rnrnInstead of denial (u003ciu003eIt’s fine!)u003c/iu003e, anger (u003ciu003eWhy me!)u003c/iu003e or overwhelm (u003ciu003eI can’t handle this!)u003c/iu003e consider the alternatives.rnrnu003cbu003eNotice your denial, avoidance and emotional reactions.u003c/bu003e You cannot deny that feeling in the pit of your stomach or pounding headache that tells you things are not okay in your world. Instead of getting in a fight with someone or getting in bed and pulling the covers up, try to face the problem head on.rnrnRecognize that denial, avoidance and emotional outbursts are not helpful. There’s no point staying angry about something stressful that happens routinely or that you cannot control. There’s no point in pretending it isn’t happening.rnrnAcknowledge that this really is happening to you. Acknowledge that it does not have to be overwhelming.rnrnu003cbu003eAdopt a growth mindset. u003c/bu003eStress is a signal. It’s telling you something. So, give it a big hello, invite it in, and have a coffee with it, while you figure out what the message is. Thank your stress for the opportunity it has offered. Accept the opportunity to welcome a needed change into your life.rnrnRemind yourself that you’ve handled problems in the past. Figure out what’s next. This is a stress-is-positive mindset or a growth mindset.rnu003col start=u00222u0022u003ern tu003cliu003eu003cbu003eu003c/bu003e     u003cbu003eUse the stress to move forward.u003c/bu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003ernPay attention to the causes and effects of stress so you can use the stress productively. Notice the u003cbu003eABCsu003c/bu003e(u003cbu003eAntecedentsu003c/bu003e, u003cbu003eBehavioralu003c/bu003e reactions, and u003cbu003eConsequencesu003c/bu003e) of the stressful situation.rnrnIdentify the u003cbu003eantecedentsu003c/bu003e that trigger your stress. What is it about work or the relationship that triggers your stress reaction?rnrnIdentify the u003cbu003ebehavioralu003c/bu003e effects on your body and mind. What happens in your body? What happens emotionally? What happens to your thinking? What do you do, or not do?rnrnIdentify u003cbu003econsequences, u003c/bu003eboth desirable and undesirable. What happens if you stay in bed instead of going to work? How do you feel if you go out Friday night with your significant other and pretend nothing is wrong?rnrnAvoidance and denial strategies reduce the stress reaction in the moment (desirable) but fail to bring lasting change (undesirable).rnrnDecide on your desired goal and move toward it. Identify what you need to address at work and develop a plan to do so. What are the problems in the relationship that you need to confront—how can you do that?rnrnNow you have strategies that capitalize on the stress you experience. You have something positive to work toward.rnu003col start=u00223u0022u003ern tu003cliu003eu003cbu003eu003c/bu003e     u003cbu003eCultivate acceptance.u003c/bu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003ernAcceptance is a tricky business. On the one hand, you want to use your stress to move forward. On the other hand, some things are beyond your control.rnrnIt helps to sit down and figure out what part of the stress you can control, and what part you cannot control.rnrnYou can implement changes for the things you can control.rnrnYou can try to let go of the things you cannot control. This is tough and it takes practice.rnrnu003cbu003eGratitude u003c/bu003ehelps offset the stress of the uncontrollables. Take a few minutes daily to consider what you’re grateful for. Write it down. The attitude of gratitude will become second nature.rnrnChange your u003cbu003enegative self-talku003c/bu003e (u003ciu003eI’m never going to get over thisu003c/iu003e). To u003cbu003epositive self-talku003c/bu003e (u003ciu003eIt may take a while, but I’ll be fine)u003c/iu003e.rnrnu003cbu003eRely on healthy lifestyle behaviorsu003c/bu003e like eating, sleeping and exercising enough, spiritual practices and social support, to help you work on acceptance.rnrnAdopt a growth mindset to help you let go. Acknowledge that a difficult circumstance is an opportunity to develop in new directions.rnrnu003cbu003eFind meaning in the experienceu003c/bu003e. Do you feel more resilient and tougher? Do you have a feeling of mastery over the challenge? Did you learn something?rnrnStressful situations can be transformative. It’s easier to accept your lack of control when you can identify the growth you’ve experienced.rnrnThank you for choosing The Recovery Village.  If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health or substance abuse and would like to find out more about the programs we offer, please reach out to us directly at u003ca href=u0022tel:855-387-3291u0022u003e855-387-3291u003c/au003e.