Sell yourself to yourself.

Healthy Ways to Cope with Stress

• Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and give yourself a break if you feel stressed out.
• Talk to others.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol.
• Take a break.
• Recognize when you need more help.

You can increase your resistance to stress by strengthening your physical health.

1. Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress.
2. Eat a healthy diet.
3. Reduce caffeine and sugar.
4. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.
5. Get enough sleep.

1. Deep breathing exercises.
2. Meditation.
3. Mindfulness meditation.
4. Progressive muscle relaxation.
5. Mental imagery relaxation.
6. Relaxation to music.
7. Biofeedback (explained below).
8. Counseling, to help you recognize and release stress.

Folic Acid and the Brain For example, folic acid deficiency leads to lower levels of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) in the brain. Some research has suggested that supplementation with SAMe can play a positive role in the treatment of depression.

Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has special importance as a precursor of serotonin and tryptophan and can also play a role in behavior and mood. Magnesium is essential for many biochemical reactions in the body and brain.

Read on to learn about different ways to increase serotonin naturally.

1. Food. You can’t directly get serotonin from food, but you can get tryptophan, an amino acid that’s converted to serotonin in your brain.
2. Exercise.
3. Bright light.
4. Supplements.
5. Massage.
6. Mood induction.