Stress: Management and Relief

MedlinePlus , a site of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, has interactive tutorials on a variety of topics designed for the public. The stress tutorial covers the basics of stress, has 10 common tips for preventing stress, and tips to manage unavoidable stress. Quiz questions throughout help reinforce the messages. If you don’t have a fast enough Internet connection for this multimedia presentation, the same stress information is available as a PDF.

The American Academy of Family Physicians has a page that briefly describes stress, its causes, and some signs, such as headaches and depression.

The Cleveland Clinic explains the three different phases of stress and goes on to describe how to manage each of them.

The American Psychological Association’s “Help Center” has an article describing the different types of stress, such as acute, episodic acute, and chronic. Chronic stress is the kind experienced by those who live in violent areas or who have endured long-standing trauma and turmoil.

The Cleveland Clinic has a list of stress signs and symptoms, along with tips for when you should call your doctor.

TeensHealth explains stress and its signs. This site includes tips for de-stressing, such as speaking up when teens feel their lives are “overscheduled” or too packed with activities.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has a page about stress in teens, and what parents and adolescents can do to manage it. The Academy also lists signs that indicate parents should seek help for their children’s behavior.

The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration explains why parents might be feeling so stressed out these days, and what effect that could have on children. It includes tips for managing stress along with links to additional resources.

The American Psychological Association (APA) has an interactive diagram that explains the impact stress can have on your respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, musculoskeletal and reproductive systems. A five-question quiz tests your knowledge of the effects of stress on your body. 

The National Institutes of Health has an article with in-depth descriptions of the stress circuit and how it affects the immune system and gastrointestinal tract. NIH also has a two-page, easy-to-read article that describes the problems long-term stress can cause.

American Institute of Stress is a nonprofit organization started by a group of psychologists, including Hans Selye, who is credited with developing one of the first models of stress and how it affects the immune system. This page introduces stress and its prevalence in society, along with some possible causes. Read about Selye and his struggle to attribute the most appropriate name to the phenomena he was studying. Scroll past the pictures and Chinese characters to read about it. 

The San Francisco Chronicle has a useful article that details the mental and physical effects of too much stress, which include “depression, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, premature cell aging, and obesity and diabetes.” The article also describes how the body’s stress chemicals affect us, and the importance of finding stress relief techniques.

CNN.com has an article about how stressful jobs can lead to heart attacks. Citing a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in October 2007, the article points out that a second heart attack is more likely if your job is stressful.

TIME Magazine makes note of two studies that conclusively link stress and heart disease. Among them is a 12-year study of civil servants that found those with relationships marked by conflict and fighting also had a 34 percent higher risk of experiencing a heart problem than those without “negative close relationships.”

The American Psychological Association (APA) has an article that debunks myths about stress and managing it. Another article focuses on identifying and managing job stress.

The Mayo Clinic has a page that explains some of the different reactions to stress that are unhealthy, such as turning to cigarettes and alcohol, and suggests you track your stress reactions for a week. A six-question test can help you assess your stress level and learn tips to address what stress you might have.

The Cleveland Clinic outlines some stress management ideas, such as changing your outlook, exercising, sleeping and delegating responsibilities. This article also emphasizes the importance of a supportive network: “Social support is the single most important buffer against stress,” the article says, and warns that not all relationships are positive.

Oprah has stress management advice from Dr. Oz, a physician who regularly appears on her show. Oz says keeping yourself healthy through good diet, sufficient sleep and regular exercise “can increase the capacity for how much stress we experience before it becomes a problem.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tips for children to manage stress, including eating regular healthy meals, exercising, and staying organized. Kids can take the “Stress-O-Meter,” a quiz that helps measure their stress levels.

TeensHealth has an article for teens called “What Stresses You Out About School?” Schoolwork, social issues and appearance issues top the list for the site’s readers. Read advice from other teens on managing schoolwork and dealing with social pressures.

iVillage has a Stress and Women online forum that allows people to talk about their stress. Recent topic threads include “Stressed to the max” and “What do you do to cope with stress?”

eHealth Forum has a message board dedicated to stress and anxiety. The site is designed as a place for people to find support and share their experiences, but not as a place to receive medical advice. Speak with a doctor if you’re concerned about the severity of your stress.

The Centre for Emotional Well Being is a blog written by an accountant-turned-trained psychologist and a therapist. Scroll down the left side of the page to find posts stress management-related posts.