Health Watch - Stress Relief: Coping Strategies

Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

These are stressful times, with many people out of work or struggling financially. This week on Health Watch, we’ll talk about ways to cope with stress. You probably can’t eliminate stress from your life. What you can do is learn to manage it.

Dr. Stephanie Setliff, a psychiatrist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says there are three ways people deal with stress — they may feel crushed by it, they may try to avoid it, or they may learn to hold it lightly on their shoulders. Managing stress means learning to balance your obligations while letting go of worries about things you can’t control. Taking time out for yourself, asking for help and having a support system can help you manage or reduce stress. If stress isn’t managed, it can lead to depression and other health problems.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/mentalhealth to learn more about
UT Southwestern’s clinical services in mental health.

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