According to the standard self-help narrative, stress is an individual problem with individual solutions. If you’re feeling stressed, there’s something wrong with you, your attitude or your relationship with the world.

But in fact, stress is a massively systemic, social and cultural problem that affects everyone. And it’s getting worse with each passing year. A perfect storm of climate change, ecological collapse, social disorder and misinformation is generating a massive stress burden on all of us. It’s a big and fascinating subject, but for the time being, here are some practical suggestions that might help you find some relief and find a way forward:

Give yourself a break

We’re all in this together. Evolutionary mismatch and ecological crisis affect everyone. Our situation is historically abnormal. You can’t be expected to know all the answers.

Is this a real tiger?

Something is weighing on your mind and spirit: Is this an actual, authentic threat to your life? If so, take action. If not, let it go.

Be ambidextrous

There’s a yang and a yin to stress relief. If focused work doesn’t work, try relinquishment. If action and control don’t give you the result you’re after, try letting go.

Consult the inverse U curve

We’ve all seen the graph of stress payoffs; a little stress is good for mind and body, a little more might be better, but then there’s a tipping point and a domain of diminishing returns. Are you in the sweet spot? Backing off the intensity might give you a better result.

Reframe your identity

Stop thinking of yourself as something other than an animal. In fact, you’re kin with outrageously powerful, incredibly robust mammals, primates and hominids. Your ancestors have endured incredible hardship and survived. Remember this: “The stress may be unpleasant, even all-consuming, but I am a hyper-resilient animal.”

Build continuity

Grow your relationships and kinship with history, habitat, tribe and meaning. Weave yourself back into the big historical and ecological forces of our planet. This will make you stronger and more resilient.

Reframe your experience as a creative effort

Maybe your stress is actually a sign that you’re on the right path. As a creative person, you’re trying to make something new and unique; of course you’re going to meet resistance along the way. If it was easy, it wouldn’t be art.

Find your narrative

What story gives you a sense of meaning and purpose? Don’t rely on plastic narratives handed to you by corporate marketing and advertising. Write one of your own.

Play a long game

Ecological angst and climate grief are here to stay, but you can lighten the load by taking the long view and planting seeds for the future. You’re working for the 7th generation now, so don’t be overly distracted by today’s emergencies. You’ve got work to do.

Consider this a test of character

Every screenwriter knows that character is revealed when a protagonist is subjected to increasing pressure and stress. In this sense, stress is a vital illumination that allows us to discover who and what we are. Do not resist this process. You are the protagonist in your story and your character is being revealed right now. Keep your dignity and suffer well.

Stress strategies