From Stress to Strength: Increasing Optimism, Gratitude, and Resiliency (First Edition)

From Stress to Strength offers readers a practical discussion of stress and how to cope with it. Filled with insights, suggestions, and strategies, the book addresses the perception and experience of stress, acute and chronic effects, and ways of managing it.

From Stress to Strength begins with an overview of stress and why it is so important to combat it. Early chapters detail the process model of stress, physical responses to stress, and their consequences academically, behaviorally, and socially.

The focus then shifts to coping with stress cognitively and physically through techniques such as positive self-talk, breathing and visualization exercises, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Students will learn about major causes of stress, as well as distress-prone and distress-resistant behavior patterns. Throughout the text there is a strong emphasis on the importance of optimism, gratitude, altruism, and resiliency.

The tone of the text is conversational, and the suggestions and strategies are practical and easily implemented. While written for college students, the information in the book is applicable to everyone.

From Stress to Strength is ideally suited to courses in stress management, the first-year experience, and health psychology.

Jolynn Gardner earned her Ph.D. in community health education at The Ohio State University. Dr. Gardner is Director of Public Health at American University in Washington, D.C. She coordinates the program and teaches and advises students majoring in Public Health. She is certified by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing as a health education specialist, and by the American College of Sports Medicine as a health and fitness instructor. In addition to stress management, Dr. Gardner's professional interests include college student health, nutrition, drug abuse prevention, and coping with grief and loss.