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The Best Way to Deal with StressA Psychologist Describes Two Effective Stress Reduction Techniques
Psychologist Katherine Muller of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine describes two of the best ways to deal with stress: exaggeration and radical acceptance.
Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed because of your work, home, or personal life? If you've ever wondered about the best ways to deal with stress, you'll be interested in what this practicing psychologist has to say. Katherine Muller, Psy.D., is the Director of Psychology Training, the Director of the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Program, and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. She practices the following stress reduction techniques with her clients. Two Effective Stress Reduction Techniques“In cognitive behavior therapy, the foundation concept is that when we’re stressed, we tend to think about things in a "skewed" way,” says Muller. “We need to assess things in more reasonable way. Stress is stress, and the way you think about it is key to how you end up feeling about it and what you do about it.” How you think about your problems and challenges is the key to cognitive behavioral therapy – which involves changing your behavior in positive ways. These stress reduction techniques can help you cope with tough situations and difficult people. 1. Exaggerate the Good“When faced with a challenge or problem, we often exaggerate the possible negative outcomes, and focus only on these. This zaps our energy and decreases our interest in a project. Instead, exaggerating the possible positive outcomes is a great way to deal with stress,” says Muller. “For instance, do you usually imagine the worst case scenario? Instead of picturing yourself losing the business account because you gave a terrible presentation that the boss hated, imagine the brilliant presentation that nets you not only the account but also the corner office, a huge raise, and use of the company jet!” Muller explains that this “opposite exaggeration" exercise can reduce negative thinking and inspire you to stay productive at work. 2. Radical Acceptance“This stress reduction technique comes from Eastern philosophy. The more we struggle, the harder things seem,” says Muller. “When we go with the flow, things seem less scary and upsetting.” Radical acceptance involves just "being with your emotions." Instead of planning, worrying about, or trying to control the future, learn to "be in the moment." To deal with stress at work or home, Muller says, “Stop projecting ahead to the predicted future or rewinding back to the past.” Sitting with your emotions and figuring out what you really feel and think can pave the road to productive solutions, which will decrease your stress level. The next time you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, try exaggerating the good and radically accepting your emotions. You may be surprised at how quickly your stress level decreases, and how happy you feel. For more information about Katherine L. Muller, Psy.D., visit the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. If you found The Best Way to Deal With Stress helpful, you might be interested in:
The copyright of the article The Best Way to Deal with Stress in Cognitive Psychology is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish The Best Way to Deal with Stress in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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