When you hear the word stress or see it written before you, you know what it is, right? However, if you were to define it you would probably find that your response differs from thousands of others. The official definition of stress, as per the National Institutes of Health is “how the brain and body respond to any demands.” The response is your body’s defense.

Perhaps one of the most complicated results of stress is learning how to manage it and cope with it in healthy ways.

Stoicism is a philosophy that can help with coping. It is not a replacement for therapy or deep seeded problems the individual is facing. It is a philosophy for every day living and dealing with challenges of everyday life.

Turning to drugs and alcohol will only provide temporary relief and fuel other health issues. Medication treats the symptoms not the cause.  So it’s important that you know how to cope appropriately when experiencing chronic stress.