Stress at work is normal, but for some, anxiety at the office becomes so overwhelming that it may seem like quitting is the only way to stay sane.


But when is quitting the answer and when should we just stick it out? HuffPost Live's Caitlyn Becker[1] spoke with a couple of stress experts to find out.


The first step is figuring out whether work really is the stressor that's causing so much trouble, according to stress management expert Paula Davis-Laack[2] .


"It's important for everyone to start to identify the root cause of stress for them, because sometimes it's maybe coming from something else and it's just manifested at work because maybe work isn't going the way you wanted it to," she said.


But if work is in fact the root of stress, the potential health consequences make it essential to address the problem --immediately. Emergency room physician Dr. Carol J. Scott warned that if tension continues to build without resolution, "you're going to have a response to stress in a biologic way." In extreme cases, that could mean a heart attack or changing metabolism that raises glucose levels and risk of diabetes.


"There is definitely a stress-health connection," she said.


Watch the full segment on workplace stress at HuffPost Live HERE[3] .



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    Choose one of your favorite vacation memories and relive it -- all while skipping the airfare! "Every single one of us has memories from our favorite places. You can relive the best moment of your life to feel like you did when you were there," Wortmann says. Why it works: It helps you recognize you have a choice in how you feel in a stressful moment.




  • Surf Around On A Zen-Friendly Website


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  • Download A De-Stressing App


    Your smartphone might be partly to blame for the stress you're feeling (hello, non-stop emails and phantom vibes), but it's also a great resource for de-stressing tools. Try a couple of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/de-stressing-apps-10-ipho_n_2397200.html">our favorite de-stressing apps</a>, and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gps-for-the-soul/id586099254?ls=1&mt=8">download the GPS for the Soul app here</a>.




  • Keep Essential Oils At Your Desk


    Essential oils will do more than mimic an escape to the spa: A whiff or two could actually help you relax. Aromatherapy has been <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19571632">shown to decrease stress levels</a>, so shop around for a scent you fancy and get sniffing.




  • Swivel


    Since stress is <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/182980-what-can-make-you-feel-extremely-tired-sleepy-all-of-the-time/"> physically exhausting,</a> you might benefit from a little movement for an instant energy lift. An action as small as swiveling in your chair with a couple of deep breaths can help you get back to business, <a href="http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/2008/10/how-to-destress-at-your-desk-instantly#slide=3">Glamour reports</a>.




  • Bounce It Out


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  • Handwrite Your To-Do List


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  • Snack On An Orange


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  • Take A Screen Break


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  • Try A Breathing Exercise


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  • Turn On The Tunes


    According to <a href="http://www.samfak.gu.se/Faculty+of+Social+science/News/News/News_Detail//everyday-music-listening-reduces-stress.cid1066914">a 2012 study</a>, listening to music every day can help keep your stress in check. The (not-so-hard-to-fulfill) catch: You have to listen to music that you actually like. Check out our <a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/mindfulliving/playlist/3IGicJWDNRy8aNe2TZEmvE">mood-boosting playlist here</a> for some inspiration.




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