Which activity reduces stress by lowering physiological arousal?

• A. Rest in a quiet place
• B. Address little things that bother you
• C. Reduce breathing rate
• D. Reduce mental activities

Answer: (C)

Slowing your breathing directly lowers physiological arousal, which helps calm the body and reduce stress. Slow, controlled breathing activates the relaxation response, decreases sympathetic nervous system activity, lowers heart rate and muscle tension, and lowers overall arousal levels.

Resting quietly reduces stimuli and can help you feel calmer, but it doesn’t actively regulate the body's arousal through a physiological mechanism. Addressing small annoyances taps into problem-solving and cognitive coping, which can reduce stress over time but isn’t as direct a way to lower immediate physiological arousal. Reducing mental activities may cut cognitive load, yet the most direct method for dialing down the body's arousal is slowing breathing.