| Managing your stress in some unhealthy | | | | Old stress buster: After a fight with |
| ways? We've got new stress busters that | | | | your husband, you turn on the tube and |
| really work. | | | | zone out. That relaxes you, all right. |
| I have close, meaningful relationships | | | | "It puts you in a stupor," says Robert |
| with espresso brownies, cold beer, and | | | | Kesten, executive director of the Center |
| reruns of The West Wing. Until recently, | | | | for Screen-Time Awareness, a Washington, |
| it hadn't occurred to me that these | | | | D.C., non-profit. That TV trance is |
| paramours are, in fact, three of the | | | | caused in part by your falling |
| major players in my stress-management | | | | metabolism, Kesten says, citing studies |
| strategy. Hey, I wasn't even aware I had | | | | that find watching television lowers |
| a stress-management strategy. And this, | | | | your metabolism more than sleeping does. |
| according to the American Psychological | | | | |
| Association (APA), is exactly the | | | | New solutions: To release the emotional |
| problem. | | | | stress of a fight, talk to a friend, |
| "We do things to manage stress all the | | | | write in a journal, take a brisk walk, |
| time," says Russ Newman, PhD, APA | | | | or get some other kind of exercise. If a |
| executive director for professional | | | | mental vacation is what you're after, |
| practice. He's not talking about those | | | | pick up a book to escape. Once you've |
| folks who eat fruits and veggies, | | | | regrouped, then talk to your husband. |
| exercise regularly, and log 8 hours of | | | | Old stress buster: You freak out over |
| sleep nightly. No. He's talking about | | | | your shrinking bank balance and (since |
| the 45 percent of Americans who, | | | | you're already in debt) decide to go |
| according to an APA survey, deal with | | | | shopping. Compulsive shopping regulates |
| stress by retiring to the couch with a | | | | your mood, says James A. Roberts, PhD, a |
| glass of wine, a sack of chips, and a | | | | consumer-spending researcher at Baylor |
| pack of ciggies. | | | | University. And when you're focused on |
| Newman would like us to snap out of it. | | | | shopping, you're avoiding feelings of |
| Stress is leaving us exhausted, tearful, | | | | low self-worth or inadequacy. |
| and nervous. It also makes us more | | | | New solutions: If you're shopping to |
| likely to struggle with high blood | | | | make yourself feel better, avoid |
| pressure, depression, anxiety, and | | | | situations that require you to make |
| overeating. | | | | buying decisions. Get a different rush: |
| So what to do? We've got a slew of | | | | Take a hike, ride your bike, or go for a |
| strategies that'll help you get your | | | | run to get the adrenaline flowing. A |
| stress in check without doing you in. | | | | mental-health pro can help you deal with |
| Old stress buster: After a harried day | | | | your behavior, too. And a credit |
| at work, you come home and start in on | | | | counselor or financial advisor can help |
| the French bread until you are in a | | | | you get control of your funds. |
| carb-induced coma. "People tend to go | | | | Old stress buster: Since you've started |
| after carbohydrate-rich food because it | | | | caring for your elderly mom, you find |
| kicks up the neurotransmitter serotonin, | | | | yourself reaching for the menthols. |
| which has a relaxing effect on the | | | | "Nicotine briefly releases feel-good |
| body," says Lisa Dorfman, RD, a | | | | chemicals in the brain, including beta |
| spokeswoman for the American Dietetic | | | | endorphins and dopamine," says Thomas J. |
| Association and author of The | | | | Glynn, PhD, director of cancer science |
| Anti-Stress Diet. | | | | and trends for the American Cancer |
| New solutions: Instead of stuffing | | | | Society. |
| yourself with that loaf of bread, take a | | | | New solutions: Taking a brisk walk or |
| hot bath or shower to relax your muscles | | | | running for at least 20 minutes can also |
| and mind. Or lie down and breathe | | | | trigger the release of those feel-good |
| quietly. If you do decide to eat, make | | | | endorphins. And immersing yourself in |
| that decision consciously. Ask yourself: | | | | meditation, prayer, yoga, deep |
| What are the consequences? The benefits? | | | | breathing, and even reading can keep you |
| After answering these questions, "eight | | | | calm. Instead of trying to puff away |
| out of 10 times you'll skip the Oreos," | | | | your feelings, talk to a friend or a |
| says University of Alabama psychology | | | | counselor. |
| professor Beverly Thorn, PhD. | | | | |