1. Confront the Source
Part of the reason we build up so much emotional stress is we tend to bottle up our feelings. That vicious cycle just continues to perpetuate our stress. It's not always easy, but one of the best ways to deal with emotional stress is to face it head-on. If you're having issues with someone in your family, a co-worker, or your spouse or partner, then talk about it. Address your concerns in a constructive manner and, most importantly, acknowledge your stress. If you're having ongoing problems with someone, you might consider counseling to help you deal with emotional stress. Counseling is rarely cheap, but for many it's an important component of living a healthy lifestyle. Depending on the severity of the situation, you'll want to meet with a counselor at least once a week.
2. Practice Relaxation Techniques
Meditation, whether just as a form of relaxation or as a spiritual endeavor, is beneficial when you're trying to deal with emotional stress. Traditional japa meditation (characterized by the recital of the mantras "Om" or "Om Namo Narayana") is a deeply spiritual form of meditation that has also been used for generations for clarity and inner peace. Catholics may, for example, find similar relief from saying the rosary, another repetition-focused chant. However you choose to use meditation to deal with emotional stress, you'll want to close your eyes, sit in a comfortable position and breathe with slow, deep, regular breaths. If you're following a mantra, then repeat the mantra the requisite number of times using prayer beads as a guide (108 beads). The rosary, at its most basic, includes the "Lord's Prayer" on every singular bead while groups of 10 are marked by the recitation of the "Hail Mary."
3. Get Moving
Exercise sounds like it would be counterintuitive when you're under stress, but one of the best ways to deal with emotional stress is to throw yourself into a workout routine. Whether you go to the gym every day or every other day, or make it a point to go for a walk in the morning, exercise relieves tension and provides an outlet for stress. Weight training is particularly beneficial when you need to deal with stress, as it requires a tremendous output of energy. If your health level doesn't permit regular weight training, you may want to try using hand and ankle weights when walking to increase your workout.
