“Stress generally refers to two things: the psychological perception of pressure, on the one hand, and the body’s response to it”
Psychology Today
Actions For Now
Steps (& Apps) to Reduce Symptoms
- “10 Simple Ways to Relieve Stress”: Basic (and fun) coping mechanisms you can use in your everyday life, from listening to music to calling a friend
- Stress Screener: Mental Health of America’s online screener will tell you if you show signs of severe stress
- Workplace Anxieties: Sometimes, you just need to laugh about workplace anxieties. These comics take care of that!
- Corporate Stress Test: Test the healthiness of your work environment
- “5 Yoga Poses That Reduce Stress and Tension”: For those looking for physical ways to engage with and reduce their stress, these poses can help
- “Calming Exercise” ft. Carolyn Wolf, LMFT: This simple breathing exercise will help you reduce stress
- “How to Feel More Rested (and Less Stressed) on a Busy Schedule”: How to take time for self-care and regenerating when your free time is limited
- “10 Amazing Breathing Exercises For Relaxation”: Lower your stress with these accessible breathing techniques
- “Exercise for Stress and Anxiety”: Learn how physical activity reduces symptoms of stress and develop a routine that works for you
- Guided meditation: This audio meditation will help you reduce stress, anxiety, and worry
- “4 Ways to Deal With Stress”: This detailed guide from the American Heart Association looks at both the causes and symptoms of stress
- “5 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress and Improve Health As You Age”: Reduce age-related stress and live your later years as healthily as possible
- “10 Ways to Deal With Caregiver Stress”: This article looks at ways in which caregivers can take care of their own health
- Parent Stress Line: Call someone to discuss your struggles as a parent
- “Rainy Mood”: This audio of a rainstorm will help you relax
- “Quick Yoga Routine For Stress”: Therapist and yogi Arielle Mesa guides you through a gentle 10-minute routine to reduce stress
- “Somatic Resting to Decrease Stress, ft. Erin McCleary, LGSW”: Mind-body techniques to reduce worry
- “Learning How to Manage Stress in the Workplace”: Resources for managing job stress
Apps
- Bellybio: Obtain biofeedback to improve your breathing pattern
- Breathe2Relax: Breathing exercises for stress management, anger control, and anxiety management
- Headspace: Learn meditation for stress and anxiety
For Allies
Give the Best Support Possible
- “Toxic Stress Toolkit: For Primary Care Providers Caring for Young Children”: An overview of toxic stress and how its adverse effects on children can be minimized
- “Helping a Friend With Stress”: Why is your friend feeling stressed, and how can you help?
- “Identifying Signs of Stress in Your Children and Teens”: This webpage from the American Psychological Association (APA) describes signs of problematic stress in youth and tips for how to intervene
- “4 More Helpful Things To Say To A Stressed-Out Person Than ‘Calm Down’”: Tried and true methods for interacting with someone experiencing high levels of stress
You’re Not Alone
Connect with Others, Hear their Stories & Access Playlists
Stories
- “Stressed: Stories and Remedies From One Who’s Living It”: Dr. Marilyn Tam shares her stress story, as well as tricks that help her cope with high stress
- “Confessions of a (Former) Stress Addict”: Nicole Liloia discusses how she felt that her life needed to be stressful in order to be worthwhile, and how she eventually overcame this belief and used her newfound knowledge to help others
- “Under Pressure: Teens Speak Out About Stress”: This piece from Teen Vogue shares the stories of teenagers across the US dealing with stress
- “Stories About Coping”: Several stories about coping with stress. Designed for teens.
Tune In
Check out our Spotify playlist for Stress here
- “Under Pressure,” David Bowie & Freddie Mercury
- “Four Five Seconds,” Rihanna, Kanye West, & Paul McCartney
- “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” The Rolling Stones
- “Breathe (2 AM),” Anna Nalick
- “Stressed Out,” 21 Pilots
- “Three Little Birds,” Bob Marley
- “Titanium,” Sia
- “Working For The Weekend,” Loverboy
- “Paradise,” Coldplay
- “I Am a Rock,” Simon & Garfunkel
- “Lay It All On Me,” Rudimental ft. Ed Sheeran
- “Broad Shouldered Beasts,” Mumford & Sons
- “Hard Day’s Night,” The Beatles
- “Keep Breathing,” Ingrid Michaelson
- “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger,” Kelly Clarkson
- “Float On,” Modest Mouse
- “Gravity,” John Mayer
- “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Simon & Garfunkel
- “The Remedy,” Jason Mraz
- “Vienna,” Billy Joel
Master The Subject
Learn How it Works & The Science Behind It
- “How Stress Works”: How stress works in the brain and body
- “How Stress Changes the Brain”: After learning how stress works in the brain, read about the effects it can have on your neurological functioning
- “Stress” from Kid’s Health: Information about stress designed for youth
- “Stress Symptoms: Effects On Your Body and Behavior”: The Mayo Clinic’s guide to common effects of stress
- The Difference Between Acute and Chronic Stress: Explaining the difference between normal and problematic stress
- “Toxic Stress: Effects, Prevention, and Treatment”:” This study looks at toxic stress and how we can combat it on individual and community levels
- “Exercise for Stress and Anxiety”: Learn how exercise reduces symptoms of stress and develop a routine that works for you
- “Study Says Making Art Reduces Stress, Even If You Kind of Suck At It”: Breaking out a coloring book can help with overwhelming negative feelings
- National Institute of Mental Health: Educate yourself about how stress might affect your health and learn ways to manage it
- “The Stress Response: Fight or Flight”: An animated video explaining how “fight or flight” reactions occur
- “How to Avoid Bringing Work Stress Home”: This graphic shows you methods for keeping work stress in the office
- “The Toxic Stress of Poverty and its Effects”: Information about the effects of chronic, income-related stress on our physical wellbeing
- “Reducing Vulnerability to Stress”: Therapist Sarah Holland describes her favorite DBT method for incerasing stress resiliency
Advocate
Connect to the Larger Movement
- American Institute of Stress: An organization committed to spreading awareness and education about stress
- Kid’s Health: Mental health and stress resources for youth
- Parent Stress Line: A hotline, stress groups, and resources for struggling parents
- Stress Management Society: This UK-based organization seeks to reduce stress worldwide