Uptight and angry? Stress can make it harder to control your emotions, finds new research from New York University.
In the study, tense people had nearly twice as strong of a cortisol response—a hormone associated with fear—when they saw photos of spiders and snakes than participants who were relaxed.
Researchers aren’t sure exactly how stress reduces your ability to stay cool, but they believe that self-control—which you need to keep calm—is a limited resource that can become weak or depleted when exposed to negative emotions.
Keeping your head straight can be tough when you’re worked up, so take it one step at a time. It’s easier than you think: Australian researchers found that just 15 minutes of deep breathing and listening to soft music can reduce your stress levels by 25 percent. Once you chill out, any problem becomes easier—in fact, you’re less likely to make irrational decisions when calm, a recent British study found.
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