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Take some time to yourself to analyze your
problems, find solutions and simply rest. Try a short, solitary
walk or swim or lying on your bed with headphones.
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Take short breaks throughout the day to do
absolutely nothing (even a few minutes can help).
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Schedule "problem time" for yourself -- a
period of time when you allow yourself to get upset, react as much as you
want and think as much as you want. Outside of that time, think of
something else.
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Spend time with friends who
cheer you up.
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Talk to someone with good
advice to offer or a similar experience to share.
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Try joining a group where
you can focus on positive activities.
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Search for available resources, such as counselors and disability
centers, for experienced help.
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Use exercise as a great outlet for stress, especially physical
stress.
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Use progressive muscle relaxation, a useful technique that focuses
on different parts of the body to relax them:
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Sit or lie down with all
body parts well supported.
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Put on some relaxing music
if you like.
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Tense each muscle group for
five to seven seconds. Then relax completely for 20 to 30 seconds.
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Notice how differently you
feel when your muscles are tensed and when they are relaxed.
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Do this at least once with
each muscle group.
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It may help to record the
instructions and play them while you are practicing. (Don’t forget
to leave room on the tape for the 20-to-30-second breaks.)
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Use breathing or meditative exercises to help you regain emotional
control.
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Breathe long, slow breaths
in through your nose and out through your mouth.
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Count to a certain number
with each inhalation and exhalation.
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Breath in and exhale with a
“sss” sound. Visualize exhaling your tension.
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Visualize a calm
destination like a tropical beach or a dense forest.
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Write journals, letters,
poetry or even quick e-mails to vent emotional
stress.
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Find a hobby or passion
that you can throw your mind or body into that refreshes you.
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Listen to your favorite
music or watch your favorite movie.
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Think positively.
People in this world overcome problems every day.
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Even if you can’t solve
every problem, try to find parts of the problem you can make less
stressful. Be persistent but flexible as you search for solutions,
and if you aren’t making progress, decide when to let go.
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Allow yourself to make
mistakes. Look at your progress instead of your failures -- what you
are doing instead of what you haven’t done.
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Avoid blaming yourself and
others. The causes of problems often are more complicated than we
can see.
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Have fun doing something fun, different or creative by yourself or
with your friends. Meet new people or try a new activity.
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Try volunteering or doing something for others. Thinking about other
people's problems and helping solve them is great encouragement for
solving your own. You may even realize your
problems are smaller than you thought.
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Are you worried about anything in the future?
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What are you worried about?
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Is your worry adding stress now?
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Can you do anything to prevent the future problem?
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If you can, when is the best time to act?
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What resources do you need to act (time, energy, money, etc.)?
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Will doing something now stop your current worry?
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Can you stop worrying anyway?
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