What's your stress personality?

A short burst of stress—like the jolt of energy you feel when the car ahead of you jams on the brakes—can be helpful.

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It’s the body’s way of keeping you safe and alert. Trouble starts when tension stays high and cortisol is elevated far longer than it should be. Over time, that strain can show up in different ways, falling into three distinct stress personality patterns. Once you identify yours, you can use targeted tactics to restore calm fast —GABRIELLE LICHTERMAN

Stress personality 1

Physical

Are your muscles tight? Get pounding headaches? Have GI issues like stomach upset? You tend to experience stress physically, says Erin Stokes, N.D., medical director of WishGarden Herbs. This means you benefit most from strategies that help your body unwind, like these:

Squeeze and release

Starting from your toes and working your way up to your face, clench each muscle group for a few seconds, then unclench. “This progressive muscle relaxation technique helps loosen built-up tension, switching your body from ‘fight-or-flight’ mode to a calmer state,” says Stokes.

Take a deep breath

First, identify where your body is holding stress, like your shoulders or jaw. Then place a hand there or gently move the area (for example, roll your shoulders), advises Elena Welsh, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and author of 5-Minute Stress Relief. Bringing attention to that spot immediately dials down the physical tension there, she explains. To usher in even deeper relaxation, inhale deeply and slowly as you imagine sending air to that spot. “Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows cortisol release and signals your body it can relax.”

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