Twelve tips to deal with Christmas stress

Few people are under more stress than survivors of sexual or domestic violence. For the next few days we are going to highlight twelve ways to deal with Christmas stress. One tip is going to be posted each day. Nothing works for everyone. The best stress reduction techniques are those that work for your lifestyle and personality.

Stress reduction tip #1 - Breathe

Go into another room, bathroom, outside or wherever you feel comfortable. Simply take a minute to take a good solid deep breath, let it out and do it again. Notice how you feel. Doing this a few times can help you reduce stress and feel more in control. 

The Stress Institute says that we tend take shallow breaths when we feel overwhelmed. They suggest that taking a moment to breathe may help strengthen the immune system and cardiopulmonary system. It can also clear our minds. All of this can potentially help survivors of sexual or domestic violence feel better and reduce stress.

Click here for the next article on reducing stress...