Whether it’s from a looming work deadline, politics, or the demands of managing your chronic illness, stress is a fact of life—and when it becomes chronic, it increases inflammation and triggers flares of numerous conditions. File these in-the-moment stress relievers for the next time your cortisol spikes, and visit HealthCentral’s Instagram to link to specific steps for practicing each technique. We can’t eradicate stress from our lives, but we can practice meeting it wisely, together.