Integrative medicine doctor Amy Shah, M.D., notes that acute stress doesn’t result in the same long-term damage potentially caused by episodic acute or chronic stress, and, in fact, our bodies have been designed from an evolutionary standpoint to respond to this type of stress as a survival mechanism. Integrative medicine doctor Reshma Patel, PA-C, MMS, also suggests that listening to some of your favorite music3 may help ease your acute stress response. Setting aside a few minutes for a mindful breathing routine may also help slow your heart rate and decrease the symptoms of acute stress: To activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which can help us rest and relax, focus on making your exhales 2 seconds longer than your inhales. One thing that you shouldn’t be dropping is your self-care routine: Exercising, eating nourishing foods, and prioritizing sleep is essential for anyone who’s going through a prolonged period of stress. And while they may feel good in the moment, self-medicating behaviors like drinking alcohol or bingeing on sugar can make it more difficult for the body to recover in the end. “It may also be helpful to see if you can reframe your stressors or see [stress] from a different perspective,” Gerst adds. “Sometimes we are, in fact, bombarded by one acute stressor after another, but there are times when we get so used to being acutely stressed that we start to see everything as acute stress.” Gerst also shares that since the causes of chronic stress are not often in our control, it’s important to try to direct your energy and attention toward the good stuff. “Even the smallest moments of gratitude can ease the effects of chronic stress. Ask yourself what you are grateful for every day, and acknowledge those people and things, large and small,” she says.
