10 healthy ways to handle excess stress

We all experience stress from time to time. Common sources of anxiety include money, school, work, relationships, or major changes like marriages, divorces, and deaths.

"Stress can absolutely be normal," says Samuel Wedes, MD, a psychiatrist in Livonia, Michigan. "For a lot of people, it can be a motivator to help them work harder or succeed further with their goals," he adds. In some situations, your body's stress response can even be lifesaving.

Other times, it can wreak mental and physical havoc, causing head and body aches, fatigue, restlessness, irritability, and even depression. In some cases, stress has been linked to an increased likelihood of developing heart disease, diabetes and hypertension, according to Dr. Wedes.

Don't let your worries go unchecked. Get a handle on stress with these science-backed and expert-approved tricks.