It sounds like science fiction, but it's closer to reality than you think: Scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder announced this week that we may soon be able to fend off stress with a probiotic shot.

Yes, they're talking about bacteria, and no, it's not as simple as all that. But a bacterium found at a lake in Uganda has anti-inflammatory properties that work on the brain. Certain mood disorders, including forms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, are exacerbated by inflammation in the brain. (We reported earlier this spring that stress too is kind of an allergy.) While the research has only taken place with mice and rats, the CU Boulder research team thinks it could have practical results for humans in the future.

Of course, that's the future. For the present, it's best to keep an array of coping strategies in your toolkit. You need to know how to prevent burnout, wait for big news, and even figure out how your stress is different from others'. There's a lot of research into the benefits of mindfulness, as well as fighting perfectionism and even seeking out green space. Even thinking about stress can actually lower your stress if you approach it the right way.

Managing stress is essential in the working world, not to mention for your quality of life overall. This probiotic shot will probably not be for someone who's just had a rough day at the office. Luckily, there are simple and even free ways to take care of that. By: Elena Sheppard This Is How PewDiePie Makes $15 Million a Year

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