GREAT Tips for Managing Stress and Anxiety
GREAT Tips for Managing Stress and Anxiety
April 8, 2024
April is Stress Awareness Month, and the NYCDCC Benefit Funds would like to share information that can be helpful for our members and their families. Stress is a fact of life, but being aware of what causes stress and how we react to it can lead to happier, healthier lives.
Dr. Krystal Lewis, a licensed psychologist at the National Institute of Mental Health, has developed the “GREAT” acronym to break down helpful practices that can help manage stress and anxiety.
GREAT stands for:
Grateful
Relaxation
Exercise
Acknowledge Your Feelings
Track Your Thoughts
These practices aren’t meant to eliminate stressors, but rather increase one’s ability to manage and deal with stress physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Grateful
When a stressful situation occurs, it’s important to remember that there are still positive aspects in your life. Dr. Lewis recommends finding small things each day for which you can be grateful. This might be a partner, a friend, a pet, a favorite book, or a nice meal.
Relaxation
By relaxing your mind and body, you can lower your anxiety levels and refresh your ability to deal with stress. Make sure you give yourself daily breaks to take care of yourself. Everyone has their own way of relaxing, but common techniques include deep breathing, meditation, yoga, and listening to calm music.
Exercise
Your physical and mental health are connected. Exercise can be a very healthy way to process stress. This includes lifting weights, cardiovascular activity, playing sports, and incorporating physical activity into everyday life. If you’re in the midst of a particularly stressful situation, allow yourself time to go for a walk or run.
Acknowledge Your Feelings
Stress is natural, and so are many of the feelings people respond with: worry, sadness, anger, confusion, etc. Noticing what you’re feeling is an important step that often goes unchecked. When you can accept and acknowledge your feelings, you’re more likely to respond to stress in a more effective way.
Track Your Thoughts
Stressful situations can make your mind race as you feel mentally overwhelmed. Dr. Lewis recommends taking note of your thoughts. Reflecting and journaling are two ways to practice this. As you become more familiar with your thinking patterns and negative thoughts, you’ll likely find it easier to engage in helpful thinking.
For many people, talk therapy or Cognitive Based Therapy (“CBT”) are helpful ways to process and manage stress. Remember: seeking support is a strength, not a weakness.
The NYCDCC Members Education and Network for Dependency (MEND) Program can help you and your dependents with referrals to appropriate levels of treatment. You can learn more about the MEND Program here: https://nyccbf.org/news-media/mend-program-and-wellness/
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