Stress is our body’s response to pressure. It is often triggered when we experience something new, unexpected, threatens sense of self, or when we have little control over the situation. Stress occurs when we are unable to cope with specific demands and events. Stressors come in a number of forms and are present in every life stage, so it is important to cope with them in a health and appropriate manner.
| Stressor (Acute or Chronic) | Potential Healthy Coping Mechanism |
|---|---|
| School | · Balance with recreational activities · Time management/schedule |
| Choosing a career path | · Make a list of your interests and passions · Meeting with a career advisor/school counsellor to explore your options |
| Work/life balance | · Establish a sense of career and life goals and their priority · Work on time management skills · Create space for activities (recreation, movement, socialize) |
| Financial Responsibilities | · Create budget and use tools to track (spreadsheets, financial advisor) · Clarify your financial goals |
| Moving | · Work on forming new habits/traditions in the new place · Identify exciting things in the new area · Connect with locals/get involved |
| Relationships (casual or intimate) | · Ensure you are communicating and reinforcing personal boundaries · Avoid people-pleasing behaviors that compromise your own needs and values |
| Relationship transitions (ie. Divorce) | · Be aware of and respect your physical and emotional limits · Model positive behavior for those around you · Honor difficult emotions; release them at a pace that feels right |
| Post-partum | · Avoid isolating yourself. Join virtual or in-person parent groups · Reach out to healthcare providers (pediatricians, lactation consultant) for questions and support |
| Major illness/injury | · Re-define your role in your household, at work, and in social settings · Make room for grief, negative feelings and make steps toward acceptance |
| Death of a loved one | · Work through grief at your pace · Celebrate your loved one’s memory to create comfort · Continue their traditions; especially the ones you had with them · Talk it out with someone you trust |