Read the text and choose the correct word. How to cope with stressful situations? Stressful situations are an inevitable part of modern life. Stress management is all about taking charge: of your lifestyle, thoughts, emotions, and the way you 1. _______________ (cope / deal with) problems. No matter how stressful your life seems, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control. Control your breathing. Rapid, shallow breathing is the body's natural 2. _______________ (response / reply) to stress. When you find yourself in a stressful situation, concentrate on slowing your breath, and breathing deeply. This will help calm your body's physiological response to stress, returning you to a more normal state. Maintain a positive attitude. When we 3. _______________ (allow / let) ourselves to become negative, thinking and speaking as if the worst is bound to happen, we increase our feelings of stress and anxiety. Focus instead on the possibility of positive 4. _______________ (outcomes / disadvantages), and think about how those outcomes might be achieved. Be prepared. If you are anticipating a stressful situation in your near future, such as a presentation, performance, interview or 5. _______________ (examination / execution), make sure you take plenty of time to prepare yourself. Preparing in advance will relieve pressure, and make it easier for you to be calm and focused. Get perspective on your situation. Take a moment to 6. _______________ (step back / benefit) from the situation, and evaluate just how important it really is in the grand scheme of things. Remind yourself that stressful situations pass, and are often not nearly as important as they seem while we are experiencing them. Take a break. Stepping away from a stressful situation is often the best way of coping with it. Take a moment to go outside for a short walk, or sit down with a favorite book. Try your best to 7. _______________ (win in / let go) of the situation, as this will help relieve the mounting tension which we feel when undergoing stress over an extended period of time, letting you come back at the problem with fresh 8. _______________ (energy / power) and perspective