Which of the following is NOT an example of a technique to manage stress response during high-pressure situations?

• A. Stretching
• B. Scan
• C. Breathe
• D. Self-talk

Answer: (A)

In high-pressure moments you want tools that quickly calm the body and keep your thinking clear. Controlled breathing helps lower arousal right away, scanning maintains situational awareness so you don’t miss important cues, and self-talk can reframe the situation to stay composed and focused. Stretching, while it can relieve muscle tension, doesn’t reliably modulate immediate physiological arousal or cognitive processing during the event. It’s more of a longer-term or prep/post-activity adjustment rather than a rapid, in-the-moment stress-management technique.