Los Angeles Christian Counseling Logo

  • ServicesRead about the expertise available
    • Individual ServicesAddress your personal concerns confidentially
      • ADHD
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Chemical Dependency
      • Coaching
      • Counseling for Children
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Codependency
      • Depression
      • Domestic Violence
      • Eating Disorders
      • Grief and Loss
      • Group Counseling
      • Infidelity and Affairs
      • Men’s Issues
      • OCD
      • Personal Development
      • Porn Addiction
      • Professional Development
      • Relationship Issues
      • Sexual Abuse
      • Trauma
      • Women’s Issues
    • Christian Couples CounselingWork through challenges together
      • Couples Counseling
      • Premarital Counseling
      • Marriage Counseling
    • Family CounselingEstablish the peaceful home you desire
      • Couples Counseling
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Counseling for Children
      • Family Counseling
    • Online Counseling
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Marriage Counseling
  • LocationsChoose from our variety of office locations
    •  1Agoura Hills
    • Los Angeles
    • Santa MonicaSanta Monica
    • Thousand Oaks
    •  1Online Counseling
  • CounselorsFind the best counselor for your needs
  • CareersBecome an affiliated Christian counselor
  • (949) 386-7179Please give us a call, we are here to help
header-image

12 Tips for Dealing with Stress

Los Angeles Christian Counseling
https://lachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/12-tips-for-dealing-with-stress.jpg 1920 1280
https://lachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/devin-avery-542010-unsplash.jpg
5183 Overland Avenue Unit C
CULVER CITY, CA 90230
United States
5183 Overland Avenue Unit C
CULVER CITY, CA 90230
United States
Los Angeles Christian Counseling
Nov
2020
16

12 Tips for Dealing with Stress

Los Angeles Christian Counseling

Individual CounselingPersonal Development

Life in the 21st century is not the slow-paced idyll promised by the commercials and gadget manufacturers of the 1960s. Supposedly, having modern conveniences was meant to free us of menial tasks so that we enjoy our leisure all the more. The dream, however, hasn’t lived up to the reality. The pace of modern life has only increased, and more is demanded of us in every arena.

12 Tips for Dealing with StressModern conveniences mean that we can cook faster, communicate instantly, travel more efficiently, and instead of creating more space for leisure, it has often meant more is expected of us by our colleagues, families, spiritual communities, and society. It’s a frenetic, fast paced, and relentlessly active way of life.

Considering all this, it makes sense that stress is the natural result. While many of us have low-grade stress that we carry with us every day, others carry much more severe stress.

Like us if you are enjoying this content.

What is stress, and what causes it?

Stress is caused when a situation triggers a cascade of hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol that produce physiological changes. A stressful incident can make your heart pound fast and your breathing quicken.

Your muscles tense and sweat drips as your body prepares itself for a ‘fight-or-flight’ scenario. This stress response is helpful for a variety of situations, including when you’re in physical danger.

It can give you the focus and drive you need to help you concentrate on studying for an exam; gives you an edge while performing a task; enables you to slam the brakes and avoid an accident; it can also provide you the strength you need to run or defend yourself if you’re in danger.

While this mechanism was designed to help us in situations where we feel physically threatened, say, by a wild animal, our bodies also react this way to non-life-threatening stressors such as family and financial difficulties, traffic jams, looming work deadlines, and pressure. This physical response and the stress hormones the body produces during such times can have side-effects on our bodies and minds in the long-term.

12 Tips for Dealing with Stress 1Conditions such as high blood pressure, the development of brain changes that may lead to anxiety and depression, the formation of artery-clogging deposits leading to heart attacks or strokes, suppression of your immune system, and upsetting your digestive system are a few of the consequences of chronic stress.

Stress can be triggered by our perception of a situation or even by positive events that demand a lot of us such as going to college, starting a new job, getting married, or moving to a new house.

Dealing with stress

Each of us has different things that cause us stress. Your stress may stem from particular relationships, from work, or maybe from grief and loss. How then, do we deal with stress in a positive, healthy way? Here are a few tips for dealing with stress.

Exercise. While it’s not a cure-all, exercise gives your body an outlet for pent-up energy and something else to focus on. Exercise also releases endorphins and other hormones that can lift your mood. Whatever works for you, be it riding a bike, going for a swim, or a run, go for it.

Eat and sleep well. Some foods which are high in sugar or highly processed can affect your mood considerably and exacerbate the symptoms of stress. Eating healthier food such as fresh fruit and vegetables, foods rich in omega3 fatty acids provide your body with what it needs to cope better with the ups and downs of life.

Muscle and other relaxation techniques. As stress affects the body (muscles tensing and so forth), having techniques on hand such as progressive muscle relaxation and practices such as yoga and meditation can help to reduce the physiological impact of stress.

Talk to others. One way to relieve stress is to share your burdens with others. Sharing with others helps to give your perspective, and it removes the burden of isolation. “Cast your cares upon God, because He cares for you”, says 1 Peter 5:7. Taking our concerns to God in prayer avails us of the peace and joy that God has in store for us.

12 Tips for Dealing with Stress 2Set boundaries. Learn to say “no” to tasks and situations that just add to your stress levels. It is healthy to know our limits and to set boundaries accordingly. That way, you’re not scrambling to fulfill a task you’re not equipped or have the capacity for.

Positive self-talk. Part of changing our perceptions about situations is giving ourselves some positive self-talk. Instead of being pessimistic and doubting ourselves and our God-given talents, reinforcing the positives in yourself and the situation helps you to feel up to the task and more willing to tackle it.

Accept what you can’t change. Some situations are beyond our control. If you’ve taken a test and are waiting for the results, there’s little you can do at that stage. Worrying about it adds to your stress, but it doesn’t change the outcome. “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Jesus asked his followers in Matthew 6:27. Since we can’t add anything to our lives by worrying, Jesus told us no to worry.

Take a break. Our culture sometimes seems to value overworking and being busy. A full schedule means you’re productive and doing something meaningful. The quiet spaces when we’re doing “nothing” thus seem wasteful.

Not so. Taking time away from things, be it work, school, or other responsibilities, helps us to recharge and avoid idolizing our work, roles, or ourselves. The world will not fall apart without us at the helm. God is in control.

Have some “me time,” time when you relax whether through art, scrapbooking, taking in a musical performance, taking a walk, or working in the garden. The whole concept of taking a sabbath is meant for us to take a beat and gain perspective on what matters and relieve the pressure of feeling like things will fall apart if we take our eyes off them.

12 Tips for Dealing with Stress 3Ask for help. Being out of your depth is a very human thing. We can’t handle everything, and we don’t have all the answers. Far from being a sign of weakness, asking for help is a healthy sign of confidence and a humble acknowledgment of human limitations.

If we can ask for help when we need it, we can mitigate the stressful feelings that we must handle every situation by ourselves. Whether it’s from a colleague, from your spouse or sibling, or by going to a therapist, asking for help is a great way to share a burden and garner the resources necessary to get things done.

Don’t cope through substance abuse or compulsive behaviors. Some coping mechanisms are more helpful than others. Others may seem helpful now, but in the long term, they are more trouble than they are worth. Taking drugs, using cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine is making use of crutches which may cause problems now and in the future. The health and other issues caused by these substances can themselves become a cause for more stress down the line.

Help others. Shifting the focus away from yourself to help others through volunteering can also reduce stress levels by taking your mind off your problems and giving you perspective. Loving and helping others to overcome their own challenges is healthy for our souls.

Work smart. Sometimes our stress levels are high due to work deadlines or not coping with your workload. Whatever circumstance you’re in, working smarter can help you reduce stress.

If you streamline your workflow, prioritize what you need to focus on, and efficiently address your tasks, that can allow you to meet your deadlines better and do your work without it encroaching on other areas of your life. If you can’t get to the least important items on your to-do list, that is easier to cope with than not completing the high-priority tasks.

Conclusion

Our bodies are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139). They are complicated and delicate gifts that enable us to experience this world in all its variety. In a fast-paced world with many demands on us, taking the time to take care of yourself can go a long way toward preventing the ravages of stress affecting your quality of life.

Photo:
“Rain on an Apple”, Courtesy of Dmitry Bayer, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; “The Bride Wore Combat Boots”, Courtesy of Owen Young, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; “Dog Time”, Courtesy of Anton Darius, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; “Windy Words”, Courtesy of Annie Spratt, Unsplash.com, CC0 License

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please contact one of our counselors for further information.

  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet it
  • ↑ Back to top

Other articles that might interest you...

Personal Growth Quotes to Inspire and Motivate
Los Angeles Christian Counseling

Personal Growth Quotes to Inspire and ...

Personal growth. Sometimes it comes easy for us and we barely need to make an effort to advance in our...

continue reading »
Dealing with Anger Issues in a Relationship: Tips for Success
Los Angeles Christian Counseling

Dealing with Anger Issues in a ...

Consider a young couple who have decided to marry. They have already announced their future marriage to a number of...

continue reading »
3 Steps to Building a Foundation for Spiritual Development 1
Los Angeles Christian Counseling

3 Steps to Building a Foundation for ...

Perhaps you have read all of Dallas Willard and Richard Foster’s books on spiritual formation and spiritual practices. The thought...

continue reading »

Related Services

  • Individual Counseling
  • Personal Development
Los Angeles Christian Counseling Logo
Los Angeles Christian Counseling
Professional help with faith-based values
Welcome to Los Angeles Christian Counseling. If you’re looking for reliable Christian therapy in LA or the surrounding areas, we welcome you to contact us to schedule an appointment. Our offices are conveniently located near Venice Boulevard, Lincoln Blvd, the 405, and 90, not far from Venice Beach or the Santa Monica Airport. We serve the communities of Culver West, Culver Garden, Oakwood, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Alla, and Venice.
© 2025 Culver City Christian Counseling. All rights reserved.
5183 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA 90230. Tel (949) 386-7179.
Facebook Sitemap Online Counseling Privacy Policy Terms of Use Feel free to contact us!
We are open for business. In person and online counseling are available now.