Constructive Strategies to Implement

• Keep physically active.
• Get adequate rest and sleep.
• Eat balanced, nutritious meals as regularly as you can.
• Try to build some pleasure and fun into each day.
• Allow yourself to experience your feelings.
• Talk to people you trust about how you are feeling and why.
• Keep a journal or use another means of self-expression like art or music.
• Pay attention to what you are thinking. Identify and challenge distorted, negative self-talk. Don’t obsess. Don’t catastrophize. Think positively in a realistic way.
• Practice deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, imagery, yoga, or meditation.
• Draw upon your spiritual beliefs; make time for spiritual practices that you find meaningful.
• Listen to music that you find relaxing.
• Seek time to be alone when you need it, but don’t withdraw or avoid.
• Problem solve about the situations that are causing you the most stress and anxiety. Discuss these situations with others who can help you think them through.
• Seek support from positive people.
• Tenaciously hang onto your sense of humor.

Destructive Strategies to Avoid

• Using alcohol or drugs to try to diminish anxiety.
• Overeating or eating lots of junk food.
• Channeling your stress and anxiety into anger; taking your anger out on others.
• Obsessive worry about the sources of your stress.
• Withdrawal; avoidance.