Coping with Stress - Commonsense Strategies (Paperback, Annotated edition)

The dynamics of 21st century life have created a social environment full of stressful situations. The American Psychological Association claims that stress in the workplace has reached a critical point, and psychological surveys find that the most common aspects our lives, such as relationships and daily activities, are those that cause the greatest degrees of stress. This book provides a comprehensive look at what professionals know about coping with stress, drawing upon statistical analysis to assert which methods of coping seem to be effective and which do not. The book begins with a discussion of the nature of stress, looking at the effects of stress in daily life, considering some of the ways researchers study stress, and examining how the human body reacts to stressful events. The study then turns to the ways psychologists conceptualize, measure and study coping mechanisms, and to specific techniques, concentrating on those that have proven to be most effective, such as improving basic interpersonal skills and polishing defense maneuvers for dealing with stress. For individuals considering professional help, the final chapters present some basic information about medications, psychotherapy and alternative medicine approaches.