Chronic Stress Seriously Damages The Body—But Is It Reversible?

The four science-backed strategies for recovering from chronic stress are simple but by no means easy—especially if you’re still in the middle of a stressful period. Eating well, sleeping well, exercising, and socializing are much more doable when things are going well, but Sinha says they require a lot of energy and attention during hard times.

“Survival mode is all about surviving at this moment, but recovery is about long-term thinking… We have to get out of that short-term thinking—but it’s brutally difficult,” O’Donovan reiterates, so giving yourself grace as you try to make these things a priority is key.

You also don’t have to wait until stress hits to practice these healthy habits. As you build them up over time, you’ll give yourself a buffer against stressful events in the future, and the tools needed to more quickly recover moving forward.