Stress emerges from an individual's assessment of the demands they believe are placed on them and their perceived ability to manage those demands. It is practically impossible to eliminate stress from our lives. However, there are some techniques that can help us minimize it. Long-term stress management can be achieved by a change of lifestyle and habits of an individual. Sleep hygiene and a balanced diet combined with physical exercise, religious practices, meditation, counselling, social support or in some cases medication may be used to deal with stress effectively.

• A defense mechanism is an unconscious psychological strategy used to cope with stress, anxiety, or internal conflict that often distorts reality rather than solving the problem. Instead of dealing with a situation realistically, the brain automatically distorts or avoids reality to reduce emotional discomfort. For example, a pilot might deny being fatigued, make excuses for a mistake, or blame others to protect their self-esteem. While this can temporarily reduce stress, it does not solve the underlying problem and can negatively affect decision-making and situational awareness. In aviation and other high-risk environments, defense mechanisms are important to recognize because they can prevent individuals from learning from errors and responding appropriately to situations.