Question

Please watch this TED Talk, “Kelly McGonigal: How To Make Stress Your Friend” and then respond to the following questions: What factors contribute the most to stress in your life right now? Describe one stressful situation where you will be able to use the first intervention mentioned in the video (understanding that your body’s stress response is helpful). Describe one stressful situation where you will be able to use the second intervention mentioned in the video (sharing your struggles with others who care about you). Who are you currently supporting as they reach out to you under stress? If you can’t identify someone you fill this role for now, who could use your support in dealing with their stress?

Answer 1

1. Right now, there are a number of factors that are contributing to highly stressful situations in my life, including a new job that I started a week back, along with the fact that I need to relocate and find a new apartment. Adding to that, Christmas is coming up and I am unprepared to deal with the social stress that comes along with it.

2. The first method, according to which one can view stress as helpful is something I will use at my job. I am required to give a lot of presentations as well as stand in front of large groups of people that are much older than me and teach. At these times, I find my body going through all the physiological responses that are associated with stress, and this method is something I intend to use from now on.

3. The second method is one I will use when it comes to my friends who are experiencing the same work related stress as well as the stress that comes with having to make big life decisions when you're unsure about almost everything. I will try to reach out to them as well as share my own struggles so that we can get through these situations together and not feel so alone.