Stress Relief
Stress doesn’t have to be your daily companion. Getting rid of it begins with self-care
By Barbara Gutierrez
Illustration by Oli Winward
S tress seems to surround us, but you can find relief. Gus Castellanos, M.D. 80, a retired neurologist and sleep specialist who teaches an eight-week program at the Miller School called “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction,” offers some helpful tips:
- “It begins with awareness that you are under stress. If you are not aware of what is happening to you, it is hard to do something about it. Take a break, take a few deep breaths, and get away from the situation, if you can. Go into nature. Socialize with healthy people. Also, eat right, exercise, do yoga, and listen to music. Whatever resonates with you is what you should do. Remember — you deserve to take care of yourself.”
- “Digital devices have a catch-22 factor to them. Social connections are good, but social connections all the time may not be so healthy. Using a phone is important, but misuse and abuse of the phone can become unhealthy. Common sense tells you that if you feel agitated, step away.”
- “Mindfulness helps with stress because it is about being in the present moment, and it requires meditation to get good at it. If you think too much about the past, you get depression; if you think too much about the future, you get anxiety.”
