Stress – Finding Your Balance

We all experience some level of stress at one time or another. The important thing is to recognize when it’s becoming harmful to your mental well-being.

Please access your professional Employee Assistance Program resources to learn more about the danger signs and how to manage everyday stress to keep it in check.

Need a minute? Try one of these grounding
techniques to better navigate stress.

When you start experiencing intense emotions like stress, anger, panic, overwhelm or grief, they can easily overpower you. When those emotions take over, there are effective tactics you can use to help ground yourself. Here are two:

Body Scan Method

Body scanning brings you into the present moment by drawing your focus to sensations in the body.

Take three deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Start at the top of your head and move down, noticing how each part of your body feels:

  • Note any tension in your face, jaw, shoulders, back or leg muscles
  • Note how your body weight is supported in the chair or on your feet
  • Note how your clothing feels against your skin, the temperature, or any other sensations

The Counting Method

The 5-4-3-2-1 technique can be used when you need to calm down, relax or direct your focus back to the present moment.

Take 5 deep breaths and simultaneously notice:

  1. Things you can see
  2. Things you can hear
  3. Things you can feel
  4. Things you can smell
  5. Things you can taste