Coping With Stress and Stress Management

If stress can damage health, then the way people manage it becomes a matter of real importance. Psychologists distinguish between coping, the everyday efforts individuals make to deal with demands, and stress management, the structured techniques and interventions designed to reduce stress and its effects. The most influential framework for coping comes from Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman, who divided coping strategies into two broad types. Problem-focused coping targets the stressor itself, aiming to change or remove the source of stress. Examples include making a study plan to handle exam pressure, seeking information, or confronting a difficult colleague. Emotion-focused coping instead targets the emotional distress the stressor causes, without altering the situation. Examples includ