National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Manage Stress
Pay attention to stress. Tools are available to help you manage and reduce your stress.
What's Important to Know?
If you are having difficulty coping with the demands of your life, you are experiencing stress. Everyone has stress. While some challenge in life is healthy, too much stress can create problems.
If you are overly stressed for too long, that stress can put your health at risk. If you have too much stress, your body will let you know in different ways, and you may:
- Have difficulty concentrating
- Feel worried and fearful
- Feel “wound up”— with sweaty palms, pounding heart, and tense muscles
- Feel irritable toward others
- Feel tired
If you or someone you know is in emotional crisis, you can call the Veterans Crisis Line. Dial 988 then Press 1. You can also text 838255 or chat online at: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
Want to Know More?
There are many things you can do to better manage your stress, and many resources to help you. You will find a variety of stress management strategies to help you better problem solve, relax and be more mindful, express yourself, manage your time, think positively, be more physically active, and plan activities you might enjoy using the resources below.
Your VA health care team can also help you manage stress. They can provide information, refer you to classes, and suggest stress-management tools, such as the Manage Stress Workbook, and the PTSD Coach, COVID Coach, and Mindfulness Coach mobile apps.
The VA also offers Veteran trainings for stress-related topics such as problem-solving, anger management, parenting, and sleep.
Resources
- Manage Stress Workbook - guides you through steps to identify and track stress and practice strategies that have been shown to counteract stress.
- Veterans Health Library - offers information and resources on maintaining wellness, as well as a variety of physical and mental health topics.
- VA Mental Health Services - has a variety of resources about specific mental health topics, conditions, and other challenges.
- VA's Living with Purpose - a self-help workbook can help you get more active and involved in rewarding activities.
- VA's National Center for PTSD - has Self Help and Coping resources for those who have experienced traumatic stress.
- VA's Whole Health Wellbeing Program - can help equip you with tools for skill building and self-care to support your health and wellness.
- Veteran’s crisis line - offers 24/7 support for Veterans and their loved ones.
