The High Price of a Broken Heart

Emotional Inoculants for the Heart

• When tension builds, heed that alarm. Psychological distress, particularly if it's chronic or extreme, is a signal you need to get help. "People should view stress like pain, as a signal that something's wrong," says Harvard's Laura Kubzansky. "So often people think, 'I can manage.' Or, 'I'll get past this.' Get help. This is serious and a real problem. It's just as worthy of attention as a broken leg."
• Avert anger by doing something else. Instead of joining a screaming match, leave the room.
• Make sure you have anti-stress tonics for use every day. Whether you do yoga, talk to a friend, or take a walk, make sure you have some downtime.
• Bypass burnout by doing what you love.
• Treat depression, even if it appears to be mild. And if you have a tendency to get depressed, take special care of your heart by being attentive to checkups, exercising, and eating well.
• Teach life skills early on so that when your child faces trauma, he'll have greater ability to meet the challenges that come up.