Self-Improvement The Stress Prescription With Dr. Elissa Epel How to manage stress and use stress to your benefit By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Published on February 13, 2023 Print Verywell / Julie Bang Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Meet Dr. Elissa Epel What You’ll Hear on the Show Quotes From Dr. Epel More About the Podcast Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Amazon Music Meet Dr. Elissa Epel Elissa Epel, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. She is also the Director of the Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Center as well. She studies psychological, social and behavioral processes related to chronic stress and how it affects health. She has conducted extensive research on the biological processes of aging with a focus on toxic stress. She’s a New York Times bestselling author and her newest book, "The Stress Prescription," provides strategies for managing stress and turning it into your strength. What You’ll Hear on the Show How the pandemic affected everyone’s stress levels The difference between acute and chronic stress Why stress is sometimes looked at as a badge of honor The population who is most affected by stress right now The population that seems most resilient to stress The most common reasons people feel stressed out The health issues stress puts you at risk for How some stress is good for you The first question you should ask yourself when you wake up in the morning How to transition between work and home so you don’t bring work stress home with you How to focus on things you can control How to engage in deep rest The restorative effects of nature Why you should eat dinner with family or friends How to practice radical acceptance Why scrolling through social media doesn’t actually relieve stress Stress Relief Techniques for Every Type of Stress Quotes From Dr. Epel Elissa Epel, PhD Why not use the power of the body to change the mind to relieve anxiety? — Elissa Epel, PhD "I think that in certain subgroups, it's kind of cool to be stressed. It's a badge of honor to say, 'I stayed up all night' and to complain about the list of stressors.""There's plenty of research showing that having [a] family structure and having family dinners is related to lower stress [and] better coping in children." Why Self Care Can Help You Manage Stress More About the Podcast The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too. Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors. Thank you. For media or public speaking inquiries, contact Amy here. Download the Transcript Links and Resources Visit Dr. Epel’s website: ElissaEpel.com Check out The Stress Prescription Follow Dr. Epel on Instagram: @Elissa.Epel If You Liked This Episode, You Might Also Like These Episodes Friday Fix: Why TIPP Will Get You Through an Emotional Crisis Monsters and How to Tame Them with Comedian/Actor Kevin Hart Friday Fix: How to Respond to Unhelpful Thoughts 18 Effective Stress Relief Strategies By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.