Which item is NOT a basic approach to stress management?

Which item is NOT a basic approach to stress management?

• A. Exercise
• B. Avoid
• C. Alter
• D. Adapt/Accept

Answer: (C)

Managing stress relies on strategies you can actively use in daily life to reduce its impact. Exercise stands out because it directly lowers physical tension, boosts mood, and improves sleep, making it a clear, accessible coping method. Adapt/Accept centers on changing how you think about and respond to stress, which reduces emotional resistance and builds resilience. Avoiding stressors can help temporarily by reducing exposure, but it isn’t a reliable long-term strategy and can lead to avoidance patterns. Altering the stressor, while valuable when possible, isn’t always within your control and may require changes beyond your personal effort, so it isn’t considered a basic, self-directed stress-management approach.

Managing stress relies on strategies you can actively use in daily life to reduce its impact. Exercise stands out because it directly lowers physical tension, boosts mood, and improves sleep, making it a clear, accessible coping method. Adapt/Accept centers on changing how you think about and respond to stress, which reduces emotional resistance and builds resilience. Avoiding stressors can help temporarily by reducing exposure, but it isn’t a reliable long-term strategy and can lead to avoidance patterns. Altering the stressor, while valuable when possible, isn’t always within your control and may require changes beyond your personal effort, so it isn’t considered a basic, self-directed stress-management approach.