ALAMOSA — Muscle tension. Rapid heartbeat. Irritability. Trouble sleeping. Difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness. Feeling fearful, worried or restless with frequent mood swings, including bouts of depression. All of these symptoms are indications that a person is experiencing stress.   

Prolonged periods of stress are not only uncomfortable, but they can also have adverse effects on the body if not addressed. According to the Mayo clinic (and just about everybody else), stress — if it’s not managed effectively — can cause high blood pressure, heart problems, increase the likelihood of having a stroke or developing obesity and diabetes. 

It’s not an uncommon problem. A 2024 survey commissioned by the American Psychological Association reports that 84% of Americans feel stressed at least once in a typical week. More than three-quarters of adults report symptoms of stress, including headache, tiredness, or sleeping problems. 60% of the US population admit they are under constant daily stress. More than half of United States respondents — around 55 percent — reported feelings of high stress the day prior to being polled. 

While there is no shortage of suggestions on how people can reduce their levels of stress, Maria Kramer, manager of the Alamosa Public Library, actually has one of the most interesting recommendations that, as it turns out, is almost one of the most effective. 

Reading. 

“Studies have shown that reading books lowers stress even more than walking or listening to music,” she says. “Reading reduces the risk of dementia because books are so engaging for the mind. And, if you're having trouble with your sleep, reading a book before bed is far better than scrolling on your phone, which can increase stress and impede sleep. Read for at least six minutes a day to reduce stress, an hour a day to prevent dementia.” 

The benefits can even extend beyond the obvious into areas where growth might actually make someone a better person. 

“Perhaps most important in these tumultuous and divided times — reading can increase empathy. Reading fiction lets us try on other lives and experience the world through the eyes of people who are very different from us, increasing our understanding of others,” she says. 

With those things in mind, the Valley Courier asked Kramer for suggestions of some books that might be especially helpful for those who are stressed out much of the time. As is typical, what she sent is an extraordinary and eclectic list of books where even the synopsis is cause for thought. 

“Shift” by Ethan Kross 

Kross says there are no “good” emotions or “bad” ones, and he’s devoted his career to figuring out how we might best manage all of them. While Kross is quick to point out that we don’t know everything about emotional regulation, he shares surprising insights gleaned from cutting-edge science and longitudinal studies that allow us to reimagine how we might control our nervous system. 

“Break the Cycle” by Mariel Buqué 

This book balances showing and telling readers how they can stop the cycle of trauma and pass on strength instead of pain to the generations below them. 

“Journey to Eloheh” by Randy Woodley 

This book helps readers learn ten values, held in common across more than forty-five Indigenous tribes and nations, that lead toward true well-being. 

“The Wandering Mind” by Jamie Kreiner 

A revelatory account of how Christian monks identified distraction as a fundamental challenge, and how their efforts to defeat it can inform ours, more than a millennium later. 

“The New Saints” by Rod Owens 

A trailblazing Buddhist Lama brings classic wisdom into a modern context to help us become agents of social and spiritual liberation. 

“Chingona” by Alma Zaragoza-Petty 

Mexican American activist, scholar, and podcast host Alma Zaragoza-Petty helps us claim our inner chingona, a Spanish term for "badass woman." 

“Right Thing, Right Now” by Ryan Holiday 

For the ancients, everything worth pursuing in life flowed from a strong sense of justice or one's commitment to doing the right thing, no matter how difficult. To be courageous, wise, and self-disciplined, one must begin with justice. 

All these books — and more — are available at the Alamosa Public Library, 300 Hunt Ave. Open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 719-589-6592.