How to Talk Down Stress: Tips from San Diego Therapist Dr. Joanne Wendt

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Dr. Joanne Wendt, Clinical Psychologist

You’re going to feel how you feel, but there are ways to act when stress hits to make sure you’re behaving in the most effective and helpful manner possible.

San Diego, California (PRWEB) June 24, 2014

It can take seconds to become stressed and hours, or even days, to finally relax. From twenty-eight years as a practicing therapist, Dr. Joanne J. Wendt has found that it’s important to learn to confront this powerful emotion, especially when it first strikes. “Effective stress management isn’t about eliminating stress altogether,” Dr. Wendt states. “You’re going to feel how you feel, but there are ways to act when stress hits to make sure you’re behaving in the most effective and helpful manner possible.” The following are Dr. Wendt’s suggestions for managing stress. These tips can even help channel this anxiety into positive, productive energy.

1.    Adjust your perspective. Take a moment to consider whether this event really matters to you. Will it matter tomorrow, a week from now, ten years from now? Does this event have lasting consequences on your wellbeing?

2.    Keep your personal feelings in check. Oftentimes stressful events like receiving criticism aren’t truly a reflection of your personal character. And although it’s hard to believe sometimes, the world isn’t against you. Learning to separate your personal feelings from a situation can provide you with a sense of objectivity.

3.    Take control over what you’re telling yourself. It’s unrealistic to expect that you can immediately control and overcome your stress, but changing what you say to yourself can help you manage that stress effectively. Deconstruct your response and make sure you’re not overacting, blowing things out of proportion, or telling yourself inaccuracies.

4.    Whenever possible, postpone your reaction. While it may be difficult to avoid reacting right away, oftentimes those initial emotions are so strong they’ll only exacerbate a difficult situation. Give yourself time to think things through and this will put a stressful event in perspective and will help you find a good response that’s appropriate for the situation.

These are just a few stress management suggestions. Additional resources for personal growth and stress management can be found in the I Recommend section of Dr. Wendt’s website.

About Joanne J. Wendt, Ph.D.

Dr. Wendt is a Clinical Psychologist who for 28 years has been helping individuals, couples, and families find peace and harmony in a respectful and caring atmosphere. She specializes in relationship issues, depression, and anxiety. Dr. Wendt’s goal is to help her clients discover the strength within them to achieve their highest possible potential. Her approach to the therapeutic setting is one of optimism and great respect for an individual’s readiness to meet difficult challenges and gain a greater understanding of who he/she aspires to be. Visit her online at http://drjoannewendt.com.

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