A lot of us have bad habits -- like too much TV -- when it comes to dealing with stress. But new research shows that improving our coping strategies is the only way to prevent stress from becoming worse.

Not so long ago, I spent an entire weekend sweating in a steam room, sweating in a sauna, or floating in a cool blue plunge pool. Between these sessions I could be found under the pulsing stream of a cold shower, or wrapped in a white bathrobe with my hair still dripping. Needless to say, I was happily soggy for two whole days, immersed in a routine of hydrotherapy.