Maybe you didn't even think that you had a stress management style. We all do. It's just a matter of figuring out what it is. Do you know what yours is?
Let me give you some examples of different types of stress management styles.
Adapt:
“I'm going to figure out a way to get used to this new situation.”
Minimize:
“It's not so bad. I'm just going to pretend it's not a big deal.”
Distract:
This is when we eat, drink, binge watch tv, etc. Anything as long as you don’t have to think about your stress.
Ignore:
This is when we don’t even acknowledge that we’re stressed.
Face it:
This is when you decide to deal with your stress directly.
Here’s an exercise that can help you understand your stress management style.
Take a sheet of paper and create 3 columns.
Column #1:
Write down all of your stressors, everything that is stressing you.
Column #2:
For each one of those stressors, write down the signs that signal that you are stressed. What are you feeling physically, mentally and emotionally? How do you react to this stressor? Do this for each stressor.
You're going to start to see a pattern in that second column. Are certain physical signs showing up repeatedly? Are certain mental and emotional signals showing up repeatedly? Are there certain behaviors you engage in to deal with stress?
Column #3:
Label you reactions for each stressor as adapting, minimizing, distracting, ignoring or facing.
Now you have a good idea of your stress management style.
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