Stress is a normal part of life. However, overwhelming feelings of distress come from how we relate to it. What is our relationship to our stress? Do we see it as something positive (“I am alive, and I have things of value in my life which are worth protecting.”), or do we relate to stress as a negative (“I am so overwhelmed! I can’t handle this.”)?

If we perceive our stress as a bad thing, or feel that we are in danger, our body starts responding to that perceived threat. Typical reactions include a fight, flight, or freeze response. The fight or flight response begins a series of symptoms that can be uncomfortable and, long term, have negative impacts to our physical and mental health

Stress may be a natural part of life, but how we manage our stress is important. We should be able to regulate it so it does not escalate to distress. Too much stress, or poorly managed stress, can have some very unpleasant consequences.

Here are some tips to help manage your stress:

• Create a healthy routine/schedule. Make sure you get enough sleep, eat well, stay hydrated, and have a healthy balance between work and personal life.
• Take breaks. It is okay to walk away or put yourself in “time out.” Listen to music. Take a walk. Do a meditation exercise. When you come back, you’ll be in a better, more productive place.
• Engage your support system. We all need someone to talk to.
• Find someone you trust. This can be a friend, family member, or a mental health professional.
• Laugh! Humor and laughter are great stress releases that can help us keep things in perspective.
• Play! Take time for things that are fun, or make you happy or joyful, or fill you with a sense of purpose and meaning. As adults, sometimes we forget we still need to play, hang out with friends, have fun, and enjoy hobbies.

If you need to talk to someone about stress that is overbearing, Carpenters has options:

1. Contact the St. Louis Wellness Center at 314.955.WELL (9355) and ask to schedule an appointment with our primary care physicians for full evaluation. If our physicians feel a referral to our behavioral health counselors are necessary, they can get you scheduled quickly.
2. Schedule an appointment through Carpenters Member Assistance Program (MAP) by calling Mercy MAP at 314.729.4600, or 800.413.8008, and press 2. For more information, find Mercy MAP online at Members « Mercy Managed Behavioral Health & EAP (mbh-eap.com), or view more information on our website.
3. Use your Cigna Behavioral Health benefits through myCigna.com, or call 800.CIGNA24 (1.800.244.6224). Search for an in-person or virtual care provider near you, or take advantage of MDLive and speak to a licensed therapist by phone or video chat.