When the going gets tough, deep down, I know that a pint of Ben and Jerry's frozen yogurt and settling in to watch TV won't solve the problem. Most of us realize that junk food can't lift one's spirits and TV doesn't make us feel better.

But like a majority of Americans, I still deal with stress in all the wrong ways. Unfortunately, my coping strategies are only making the problem worse.

According to Mental Health America, an advocacy group that recently conducted a nationwide survey on how we manage stress, most Americans manage stress by watching TV, skipping workouts, and of course, choosing ice cream over a healthy meal.

Turning to comfort foods or relying on the remote might offer momentary relief and soothe us temporarily. But it also tends to prevent us dealing with stress in ways that actually help our bodies to cope, such exercise, eating healthful meals, and communication and laughter with friends and family.

Ultimately, it seems that poor stress management skills wreck havoc with the levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol. Cortisol imbalances have been linked to heart disease and other health problems. Time.com has an interesting, in-depth article on what scientists are learning about causes and effects of stress.

Among other things, it details how poor coping habits take a lasting toll on our bodies by interfering with our body chemistry. Over time, these habits lead to chronic stress. In short, it seems that eating poorly and skipping workouts does a lot more damage than merely packing on the pounds.

After reading the article, I got the message: The next time I'm tempted to watch an entire Project Runway marathon, I need to take a deep breath, and then take another. And during that time, I should remind myself that going to the gym or meeting a friend at a cafe is a lot smarter than a night of TV and junk food.