40 Quotes About Stress To Help You Through Challenging Times
According to the American Psychological Association, in 2022, 76% of Americans stated that stress negatively affected their health in the previous month. Stress can affect people both emotionally and physically, with real effects on a person’s blood pressure, heart rate, and nervous system. However, there are effective treatments available for stress, including evidence-based self-care strategies, support groups, and therapy with a licensed counselor, both in person and online. In addition to these stress-relief strategies, it may help to review some stress quotes from notable figures who have experienced stress.
Relatable quotes to relieve stress
The following are 40 quotes about stress that may alleviate some of the physical and emotional effects of stress during challenging times:
- "Tension is a habit. Relaxing is a habit. Bad habits can be broken, good habits formed." – William James
- "There is no such thing as a stress-free life. No evidence has ever been presented which suggests that a stress-free life can ever be achieved. Stress can be managed, relieved, and lessened, but never eliminated." – Gudjon Bergmann
- “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” – Marcus Aurelius
- "It's not stress that kills us, it's our reaction to it." – Hans Selye
- "In times of life crisis, whether wildfires or smoldering stress, the first thing I do is go back to basics… am I eating right, am I getting enough sleep, am I getting some physical and mental exercise every day?" – Edward Albert
- “Faced with stress, too many people feel they have nowhere to turn to, that they don’t have access to the kind of friendships or communities where they can easily and openly share their problems and worries.” – Daisaku Ikeda
- “Problems can be experienced as … a chance for renewal rather than stress.” – Marilyn Ferguson
- "Stress, anxiety, and depression are caused when we are living to please others." – Paulo Coelho
- “Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.” – Lily Tomlin
- “In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.” – Lee Iacocca
- "Stress acts as an accelerator: it will push you either forward or backward, but you choose which direction." – Chelsea Erieau
- “In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.” – Fred Rogers
- “There cannot be a stressful crisis next week. My schedule is already full.” – Henry Kissinger
- "The best antidote to stress is resilience… having the ability to respond to change or adversity proactively and resourcefully." – Lauren Mackler
- “There are thousands of causes for stress, and one antidote to stress is self-expression. That’s what happens to me every day. My thoughts get off my chest, down my sleeves and onto my pad.” – Garson Kanin
- "The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." – William James
- "Every day brings a choice: to practise stress or to practise peace." – Joan Z. Borysenko
- "Times of stress are also times that are signals for growth, and if we use adversity properly, we can grow through adversity." – Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski
- “Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.” – Wayne W. Dyer
Getty/Daniel de la Hoz - "Stress is not what happens to us. It's our response to what happens. And our response is something we can choose." – Maureen Killoran
- "Stress is largely self-inflicted, so the ability to manage stress more effectively comes from managing oneself." – Michael Hetherington
- "People should not try to avoid stress any more than they should shun food, love, or exercise." – Hans Selye
- "Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges. So relax." – Bryant McGill
- "The truth is that stress doesn't come from your boss, your kids, your spouse, traffic jams, health challenges, or other circumstances. It comes from your thoughts about your circumstances." – Andrew Bernstein
- "You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway." – Steve Maraboli
- "Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor." – Thich Nhat Hanh
- “Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.” – Hans Selye
- “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
- “Your mindset matters. It affects everything – from the business and investment decisions you make, to the way you raise your children, to your stress levels and overall well-being.” – Peter Diamandis
- “Stress is caused by being ‘here’ but wanting to be ‘there.’” – Eckhart Tolle
- “Doing something that is productive is a great way to alleviate emotional stress. Get your mind doing something that is productive.” – Ziggy Marley
- “When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.” – Peter Marshall
- “Reduce the stress levels in your life through relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and exercise. You’ll look and feel way better for it.” – Suzanne Somers
- “Stress is simply the adaptation of our bodies and minds to change.” – Peter G. Hanson, M.D.
- “Getting stress out of your life takes more than prayer alone. You must take action to make changes and stop doing whatever is causing the stress. You can learn to calm down in the way you handle things.” – Joyce Meyer
- “You need to be able to manage stress because hard times will come, and a positive outlook is what gets you through.” – Marie Osmond
- “There is no such thing as a stress-free life. No evidence has ever been presented which suggests that a stress-free life can ever be achieved. Stress can be managed, relieved and lessened, but never eliminated.” – Gudjon Bergmann
- “All the suffering, stress, and addiction comes from not realizing you already are what you are looking for.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
- “‘What if?’ statements throw fuel on the fire of stress and worry. Things can go in a million different directions, and the more time you spend worrying about the possibilities, the less time you’ll spend focusing on taking action that will calm you down and keep your stress under control.” – Travis Bradberry
Getting support for stress
While the above stress quotes may provide a pick-me-up during stressful situations, many people find that they need more support. It may be helpful to seek support groups dedicated to people who are experiencing stress or anxiety. You may also benefit from connecting with a licensed therapist. If you are too stressed to fit traditional in-person therapy into your schedule at this time, you might consider online therapy.
With online therapy, you can communicate with a licensed therapist from home or anywhere with an internet connection via audio, video, or live chat. You can also write to your therapist at any time through in-app messaging, and they’ll respond as soon as they can. This may be especially helpful if you experience stressful moments between therapy sessions.
Numerous peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of online therapy, including for stress and anxiety. A 2022 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that online psychological interventions typically led to significant reductions in anxiety and depression.
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