Stress Mastery: The Art of Coping Gracefully

Chapter Summary

In order to counteract the fight-or-flight response and cope effectively with stress, you must learn how to relax your body. How you breathe is vitally important in this process. Proper breathing is the cornerstone of your successful stress mastery program. It is important to remember to practice diaphragmatic breathing, which involves breathing deeply, slowly, and rhythmically from your diaphragm. Quick, upper-chest breathing will only exacerbate your tension level. Remember to remember to practice proper breathing in nonstressful situations as well as when you are under stress.