Stress Management: Reducing Stress By Being Assertive

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Introduction

Poor communication is one of the biggest causes of stress at work and home. Being unable to talk about your needs, concerns, and frustrations can create stress. Being assertive helps you communicate without causing stress to yourself and others. Assertiveness is a skill that you can learn and put into practice.

Key Points

• Assertive communication means speaking up for yourself in a thoughtful, tactful way. Being assertive helps you express yourself about things that matter to you. This reduces stress by helping you feel more in control of a situation.
• You can use the assertiveness ladder to practice assertive communication. Each letter in the word "LADDER" stands for a step in the process. The ladder helps you define a problem, describe it to others, and express your feelings.
• Write out your plan to be more assertive, and get comfortable with it. Practice it out loud so you can hear what your assertive statements sound like.
• To be more assertive, you focus on what you say and how you say it. Using the right body language helps you communicate more assertively.

 What is assertive communication?

 Why is it important to be assertive?

 How can you be more assertive?

 Where to go from here

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Last updated:	April 25, 2007
Author:	Jeannette Curtis
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Paul J. Rosch, MD
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Michele Cronen