Lessening Stress

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An anxiety or stress-producing situation for most people is any condition or circumstance that forces us to make an adjustment or a change. Examples might include beginning school, getting started in an occupation, changing jobs, children leaving home, moving to a new community, buying a home, or adjusting to retirement.

Some general guidelines for lessening this anxiety might include:

• Talking over the worrisome issue with a trusted parent, friend, relative, neighbor, or mental health professional
  
  
• Making a list of all the positive aspects of a situation on one side of a piece of paper and a list of the disturbing or annoying aspects on the other half of the page.
  
  Study and evaluate what you have written. This procedure often helps in decision-making or in taking a more rational view of the situation.
  
  It is useful after listing and choosing what must be done to then sort them out. Take "one thing at a time"—set short-term goals. Enjoy the success of reaching these first. Then proceed with the long-range plans.
  
  

Ronald Pitzer
Family Sociologist

Originally published in February 1982

College of Human Ecology in cooperation with the University of Minnesota Extension Service

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