Stress Management Workshop

Coping Strategies (continued)

One positive coping strategy is deep breathing. As mentioned above, stress puts our bodies on alert, increasing our pulse, breathing, and blood pressure. By slowing our breathing, we can actually decrease those physical symptoms that were increased as a reaction to stress. Just stop for a moment, breathe in slowly for four counts, then breathe out slowly for five counts; do this several times until you begin to feel calmer. Your breathing should be diaphragmatic breathing, that is, when you breathe in your stomach should go out and when you breathe out, your stomach should go in.

Now place one of your hands on your stomach and focus on your breathing. Feel your stomach go out as you breathe in and then feel your stomach go in as you breathe out. Deep breathing is very relaxing and cleansing.

Information compiled by Leslie Bautista

Robert A. Rando, Ph.D. March 8, 2005