WRITER.

How do you manage stress?

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Managing stress is a very difficult part of my life. I take anxiety medicine at least four times a day, and if I forget one I definitely notice after about an hour.

There are a few non-medical tactics I use to manage stress as well. I take deep breaths, in five seconds, out five seconds. I challenge my scary thoughts. As my therapist says, “it’s a fear, not a fact.” I remind myself “I am safe,” just like the main character in Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous. I become aware of my surroundings by naming 5 things I see, 4 things I hear, etc.

My biggest coping mechanisms are reading and writing, and those alleviate stress somewhat as well.

What about you? How do you manage stress? Leave a comment below!