Stress can be caused by past, present, or future encounter(s) that we perceive as a threat or challenge. These stressors may be either perceived external conflicts or internal struggles.

Stress management can be viewed as a lifestyle conducive to effective handling of anxiety. One must incorporate certain strategies into their lifestyle in order to deal with everyday encounters, concerns, and challenges. Now, to ask ourselves if our stress management habits are effective and efficient is something much different. Everyone has stress management techniques they have incorporated from day one. We learn to deal with stress in different ways throughout life. It seems most of us get into certain habits as we grow older. What may of been the best way to deal with such events at an earlier stage may now be inappropriate, ineffective, or inefficient. Being creatures of habit we must reevaluate our behaviors and take some effort to become more effective in dealing with our stress. For some, this idea may be very stressful in itself. We tend to embrace those things that are most familiar to us. Those old habits are comforting in many regards. It may be some time before the product of out old ways creates more anxiety than the idea of change in itself. It may be at this point that new behaviors are considered and ideally adapted. For many, these changes may rarely transpire. Often we don't feel confident we can manage such a lifestyle change; poor self efficacy. Sometimes we don't even recognize a lifestyle change may be really more effective in managing certain stresses. Particularly if the derived benefit(s) are long term or uncertain; as with the case with many preventative health practices.

Our thoughts, emotions, behaviors (conscience and sub-conscience), and environment interact and effect one another. To manage our emotions, as in stress management, we manage our environment, and the content of our thoughts. Stress management techniques may incorporate assertiveness, time management, rational problem solving, as well as various self-regulation practices. Stress management is only one component to one's wellness lifestyle. Other components of the wellness lifestyle may include healthy social relations, sound dietary practices, exercise, safety precautions, vacation, leisure, spiritual matters, social interaction & support, and other elements that contribute to the total self. One's wellness lifestyle may depend on their current lifestyle, personality, and interests.

We manage our environment by engaging in activities, interacting with people, and changing the world in which we live. We manage our thoughts and attitude by making sense of ourselves, our world, and the interaction between ourselves and our world. Apart from our biological tendencies, our stress response is largely learned. We can train ourselves to manage our reaction to stressful events. Physiological reactions may include: peripheral vascular constriction, tachicardia, and hypertension. These self-regulation techniques can be introduced by using various forms of biofeedback training. Biofeedback training may involve monitoring and self regulating, digital temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, EEG activity, galvanic skin response, respiration frequency & quota, temporal, and other EMG activity. Some self-regulation methods include, progressive relaxation, autogenic phrases, and guided imagery. Longer sessions may be used to train the individual to relax more effectively and more efficiently. Quicki-minis are ideally suited to be used throughout the day, when stress is more of a reality. Some quicki-minis include: tense-release, breathing techniques, shoulder roles, and various stretches.