Feelings of anxiety and stress can take over our life if we allow it. By finding the right coping strategies you will be able to reduce anxiety and stress. To help understand what type of impact stress and anxiety can have on your life and what coping strategies may help you to reduce anxiety and stress, I have interviewed therapist David Olem LMFT.
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in San Francisco, California. One of my areas of specialization is helping people deal with stress and anxiety. I continue to be impressed by people’s ability, no matter how bad things have gotten, to make positive changes in their lives.
I have been involved with several research projects at UCSF. I have a particular interest in the relationship between stress and health. Some of these studies involve teaching “coping effectiveness training” to help people manage stress.”
What type of impact can stress and anxiety have on someone’s overall life?
“Research continues to show that both stress and anxiety can have an enormous impact on many areas of your life. When you are stressed or anxious, it can interfere with sleep, cause irritability, contribute to relationship problems, and make it difficult to think clearly or make good decisions. You may experience muscle tension, headaches, diarrhea and other physical problems, which leave you feeling drained and unable to move forward in important areas of your life. Stress and anxiety can cause problems in your significant relationships and make it difficult to relax and enjoy what you are doing. One of the real challenges is that often the activities you may turn to in order to try and manage or escape the stress and anxiety (such as excessive drinking, eating, shopping, or using substances) can end up exacerbating the situation.”
What are some coping strategies you can give for someone who is experiencing anxiety and stress?
“There are many effective strategies for coping with stress. Simple activities can be helpful, like listening to music, going for a walk, or just stopping to take some deep breaths. Deep breathing can actually slow your heart rate and open your diaphram, helping more oxygen get into the brain so you feel calmer. Yoga, meditation and almost any form of exercise can reduce stress as well. Some people learn to calm themselves by changing their thought patterns and stopping negative thoughts. Progressive relaxation techniques and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) have both been proven to be successful. There are books, CDs and classes available to learn these strategies.
It may sound a little silly, but I’ll often tell clients whose anxiety or stress is impacting their sleep, to write down the things they are worried about, put that list in their shoe and say “I’ll deal with you again tomorrow”. Just going through that ritual of putting your stresses away for the night can really make a difference. And, often, looking at the list again in the morning with a fresh set of eyes makes it seem a little less overwhelming.”
What type of professional help is available for someone who is experiencing anxiety and stress?
“There are more and more groups out there that are specifically designed to help people manage stress and anxiety. Some are general skills groups and others are offered for people dealing with a specific stressful life situation, such as being unemployed or coping with a chronic health condition. Therapy is also a great option, particularly because it is tailored to each individual’s specific needs. When dealing with stress on your own feels overwhelming, therapy can help you gain skills to manage your anxiety. A skilled therapist can address the underlying causes of the stress and anxiety and provide valuable support and expertise.”
What last advice would you like to leave for someone who is dealing with anxiety and stress?
“A certain amount of stress and anxiety is part of everyday life. However, sometimes it can start to feel unmanageable. Sometimes it is a sign that there are things in our lives we need to change. Other times it is because the strategies we are using aren’t effective. Everyone is different and there is no set way to cope with stress. It’s just a matter of developing a list of options and learning to use them. Don’t be afraid to seek help. Talk to your doctor about it. Find a therapist or support group. You don’t have to deal with it on your own.”
Thank you David for doing the interview on coping strategies for anxiety and stress. For more information on David Olem or his work you can check out his website at www.davidolem.com.
Recommended Readings:
How to Reduce Stress Simply
Is Stress Keeping You Awake at Night
Do You Have Panic Attacks? Try Stress Management
