Prolonged
psychological stress may negatively impact health, such as
by weakening the immune system. Stress management is the application
of methods to either reduce stress or increase tolerance to
stress. Certain nootropics do both.
Exercising
to improve physical fitness, especially cardiovascular fitness,
boosts the immune system and increases stress tolerance. Relaxation
techniques are physical methods used to relieve stress.
Examples
include sexual intercourse, progressive relaxation, and fractional
relaxation. Psychological methods include cognitive therapy,
meditation, and positive thinking which work by reducing response
to stress.
Improving
relevant skills and abilities builds confidence, which also
reduces the stress reaction to situations where those skills
are applicable.
Reducing
uncertainty, by increasing knowledge and experience related
to stress-causing situations, has the same effect. Learning
to cope with problems better, such as improving problem solving
and time management skills, may also reduce stressful reaction
to problems.
Repeatedly
facing an object of one's fears may also desensitize the fight-or-flight
response with respect to that stimulus.
