STRESS IS SIMPLY "UNRESOLVED ISSUES"!!
ALL "UNRESOLVED ISSUES" HAVE "ROOT CAUSES"!!
Stress is the body's natural response to a perceived threat or challenge. It triggers the
"fight or flight" response, releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
While short-term stress can be motivating, chronic stress can lead to health problems,
including anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular issues.
So is there actually good stress and bad stress?
Yes, there is, so obviously, its very important, if not vital, to know the differences, right?
The key distinction between good and bad lies in the individual's perception of the
stressor. If the stressor is perceived as challenging and within one's ability to cope, it can
lead to positive outcomes. However, if the stressor is perceived as overwhelming or
threatening, it may result in distress.
It's important to manage stress effectively and develop
coping mechanisms to navigate both positive and negative stressors in life.
Personally, I thrive and grow on good stress. I love it. It keeps me alive, focussed,
motivated and beneficial for my personal growth.
Some examples of good stress may include:
Challenging tasks: Taking on projects or tasks that are challenging but manageable can
lead to a sense of accomplishment and personal development.
Exciting life events: Positive life changes such as getting married, starting a new job, or
pursuing higher education can be sources of good stress.
Physical exercise: Regular physical activity, while physically demanding, can be a positive
stressor that contributes to overall health and well-being.
Time pressure: Having a reasonable amount of time pressure on a task can boost motivation
and focus, leading to increased performance.
Creative endeavours: Engaging in creative activities, such as art, music, or writing, can be a
source of good stress as individuals challenge themselves to express their creativity.
So, although good stress is challenging and sometimes difficult to achieve and overcome,
we are comfortable within this realm, as we are confident of accomplishment and do not
perceive these challenges as a threat, or challenge we are unable to meet.
Good stress can be very positive, making you feel useful and worthy. It can spur you on,
making you more productive whether your at work, home or pursuing hobbies and leisure
activities.
Good stress also helps you become more creative and keeps you motivated and focused.
So, the 64 thousand dollar question:
When does good stress turn into bad stress??
Again, this lies within the individuals perception, and peoples boundaries and thresholds
can vary significantly on this issue.
I have worked with people who's coping mechanisms for dealing with workload and stress
were unbelievable and way beyond my threshold for my "bad stress" trigger.
However, I have also witnessed people literally "go under" at the mere mention of a tight
timescale or looming difficult situation.
Everyone is different!
So what's the answer??
Its actually quite simple. Although everyone is different, and some vastly so, the answer
lies within yourself.
Your mind and body will soon let you know when good stress has turned to bad!!
Bad stress is often referred to as "distress." Distress is a negative form of stress that can
have detrimental effects on physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Unlike good stress,
which can be motivating and beneficial, distress can be overwhelming and harmful if not
managed properly and corrected quickly. Distress is typically characterized by feelings of
anxiety, pressure, and a sense of being unable to cope with the demands of a situation.
There are occasions when the perceived threat, although deemed serious and potentially
harmful, can be dealt with and resolved very quickly.
However, this can only be accomplished by addressing and removing the "Root Cause"
of the problem.
A typical example might be an unexpected credit card bill which can be paid off immediately,
or a confrontation at work which can be resolved with a simple 1 2 1 meeting!
So, even bad stress, if dealt with quickly, can actually be beneficial: the mere act of identifying
the "Root Cause", owning it then dealing with it to a satisfactory conclusion can leave you feeling
empowered and much more confident of dealing with such issues in the future.
However, when the pressure begins to accumulate, and the issues become overwhelming,
this is when stress (unresolved issues) materialise as chronic health problems.
When encountered with a stress related issue, whether it it be deemed a threat or not, the
body releases Adrenalin & Cortisol. These are our stress hormones (fight or flight) which are
a vital component in our ability to deal with pressure and threats.
Initially, your stress reaction will place the issue into one of three categories:
Irrelevant: It doesn't even need to be thought of anymore. It doesn't matter to you.
Positive: You can meet or even exceed this challenge. It might even excite you and spur you on.
Alarm: Deemed potential harm, a threat or challenge you feel is unattainable.
Stress (unresolved issues) becomes bad, when the ALARM phase is chronically triggered.
You become exhausted with chronic exposure to stress which you cannot resist, and are
unable to cope and adapt to.
Other health issues which may arise are nausea, headaches/migraines, panic attacks and
irritability.
However, sleep will be one of the first things to be affected, and sometimes significantly.
Poor sleep quality has a huge impact on your physical and mental wellbeing, and if this
becomes a chronic problem, then your mental health will suffer dramatically.
Chronic stress will exponentially raise your blood pressure and heart rate, and although
you may not realise it, your immune system becomes weakened, leaving you susceptible
to illness and disease.
REMEMBER:
Chronic stress is the pre-cursor to Depression & Anxiety!!
Preventing & Dealing With Stress:
I'm sure you have all heard the saying:
Prevention is better than cure.
So lets look at some effective measures & techniques for preventing stress
(unresolved issues) in its tracks, helping you to be forewarned and forearmed when it
does come calling.
Additionally, lets dive into some tools, hints and tricks to help manage and deal with
stress and prevent it building and turning into an overwhelming, chronic situation.
The Golden Rule when it comes to stress:
- Identify the ROOT CAUSE
- Own it (Accept it, don't ignore it, or brush it under the proverbial carpet)
- Deal with it (Don't let the issue build, don't procrastinate, confront early)
There are some excellent coping mechanisms and strategies you can utilise when
initially confronted with a potential cause of stress!
The first thing to learn to do, is breathe. This might sound obvious, however, there
have been many bad decisions made due to simply not breathing correctly when
initially presented with a challenge.
When you feel under pressure, even initially, human nature dictates that you begin
to breathe quicker and shallower than normal. This restricts the oxygen flow to your
brain, resulting in your decision making being rushed and flawed.
Always remember to breath deeply when a potential stressful challenge is presented
to you, even if this means removing yourself from the situation and allowing yourself
time to keep calm, gather your thoughts and yes BREATHE DEEPLY!
Diet:
Taking an holistic approach to our mental health and consequently how we deal with
and prevent stress, diet also plays a significant role in this process.
For this to be effective, we must look to foods containing Vitamins C, D & E, Essential
Fatty Acids such as Omega 3 and the all important electrolytes such as Magnesium,
Potassium & Calcium.
Consuming such foods helps with the following:
- Regulates Mood
- Anti-Inflammatory Properties
- Helps Lower Blood Pressure
- Lowers Cortisol
- Reduces Stress
- Helps Regulate Hormones
- Stabilises Blood Sugar Levels
Sources include:
- Turmeric/Ginger
- Green Tea
- Nuts/Seeds
- Oily Fish
- Good Quality Proteins
- Dark Chocolate
- Avocados
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
As always, when purchasing these foods, always try to go organic as best you can.
You really do get what you pay for in both quality and health benefits.
Exercise:
Here we go again I here you say. However, it really cannot be overestimated just
how beneficial exercise is to good physical and mental health.
Exercise gives you that "feel good" feeling by releasing endorphins into your system,
during and after working out.
Exercise also releases those happy hormones Dopamine & Serotonin.
This declutters your brain and allows you to think clearer, be more focused and think
logically and critically.
Social Connections:
How you interact and communicate with people plays a pivotal role in your ability
to deal with and prevent stress!
Remove yourself from toxic people wherever and whenever you can. They drain your
energy, raise Cortisol levels and promote negative thinking.
Admittedly, this can be difficult at times, especially when these people may be work
colleagues or worse still, family members.
Two very effective tools to utilise when you have no choice but to spend time in these
peoples company:
- Deep breathing (before, during and after the interaction)
- Positive Affirmations (before and after the interaction)
Toxic, negative people are what they are. Never, ever try to change them or help
them without them asking you for help first.
Whatever their behaviour and actions towards you, try not to be angry with them.
Instead, tell yourself you find their behaviours and actions interesting, then simply
move on and be happy and grateful you are different and at peace with yourself.
Mindfulness:
With regular practice, mindfulness can become a powerful tool for cultivating inner
peace, resilience and play a major role in your ability to both deal with and prevent
stress.
Techniques include:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Music for relaxation (Solfeggio Frequencies)
- Deep Breathing Exercises
- Positive Affirmations
- Massage
Utilising mindfulness techniques can be a very powerful addition to your arsenal in
your fight against stress.
Mindfulness is a mental state characterized by being fully present and engaged in
the current moment, without judgment or distraction. It involves paying deliberate
attention to thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment
with acceptance and openness.
Top Tip:
Don't take it too seriously though, have fun and enjoy experimenting until you discover
which techniques work for you best.
Sleep:
Managing and preventing stress and improving sleep are interconnected, as stress can
significantly impact the quality of sleep, and poor sleep can exacerbate stress levels.
By incorporating certain strategies into your daily routine, you can better manage stress
levels and improve the quality of your sleep, leading to overall improved well-being.
This significantly improves your ability to deal with and more importantly, prevent stress.
Try my free, Sleep Masterclass Course by following the link below into my You Tube
Channel "Happy, Healthy Haven".
Blog Post Summary:
By incorporating these effective strategies into your daily routine, you can better manage
stress levels and prevent them from taking a toll on your physical and mental health.
Remember, small changes can make a big difference in your overall well-being, leading to
a happier and more fulfilling life.
Remember:
- Stop worrying about things you cannot control
- Take emotion out of your thinking and decision making
- Everything is temporary (including life itself)
- Everything passes
- Nothing is ever as bad as it seems!!
