AV���

According to the��, long-term stress can lead to all sorts of physical and mental health problems, from��high blood pressure��and loss of sex drive to anxiety and��. While you��������’t��always avoid stress, you can deal with it by creating a stress management plan.��

“We’re asked to do more every day, yet the number of hours in a day hasn’t changed,” says��Dr. Paul Christian McCormick, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at AV�о��� and assistant attending physician on��NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health Center’s 2 South Inpatient Eating Disorders Unit. “It’s not surprising that we’re stressed.”��

If����dz�’r����feeling stressed, you can move toward relief through a healthy lifestyle and one short word:��No.����

Managing Stress Through Your Lifestyle����

When����dz�’r����dealing with stress, taking care of yourself can feel like an afterthought. You might turn to emotional eating or engage in other unhealthy habits. However, a strong stress management plan��requires��intentional,��.����

To better��, Dr. McCormick recommends the following:��

Setting Boundaries and Saying “No”��

You��������’t��ignore financial or relational stresses, but you can reduce stress in another way. When well-meaning coworkers, friends or family members invite you to potentially stressful events,����Dz�’t��say yes��immediately. First, ask yourself the following questions:��

Answering these questions will help you��determine��whether to accept invitations or new responsibilities. Doing this is easier when your stress management plan already includes healthy lifestyle choices.��

“If someone asks you to do something when ��dz�’r�� tired and irritable and impatient, you may just take it on because ��dz�’r�� too tired to argue,” Dr. McCormick says. “If����dz�’r����eating well and sleeping well, you may have the presence of mind to realize you����Dz�’t��have to take on more stress. So, you learn to take control of your day and politely decline events when��appropriate.”��

Your Stress Management Plan��at a Glance����

Stress is everywhere. A stress management plan reduces the risks to your health.��

Feeling stressed?��Find a doctor��at AV��� who can help you��identify��and manage the stressors in your life.��