Feeling stressed? Discover how approaching stress and times of crisis with these mindsets can change the course of your physical and mental well-being.
We’ve all been at the hands of disabling stress that has affected our daily routines. It can come from work, relationships, finances, or perhaps situations beyond our control. With the uncertain events continuing to unfold with COVID-19 and many feeling a lack of control, we’ve seen first-hand stress levels soaring in our communities.
In an age of technology consisting of uninterrupted broadcasts, social media updates, relentless advertising and app notifications, the inability to step away and unplug from the negativity can have swift negative results on our mental and physical well-being.
Now more than ever, navigating each day with intention and staying mindful of our stress levels is essential to optimum health and wellness.
So the question is, how do we do that?
What is stress?
Although there is no single agreed-upon definition of what stress is, there is general agreement in the medical community that stress is the body’s reaction to anything we perceive as harmful or threatening to our physical or mental wellbeing. According to The American Institute of Stress, stress can also be defined as “a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.”
It might come as a surprise to some, but the term “stress” which we use to describe the duress and accompanying symptoms our bodies undergo, was coined only about 50 years ago by a physician by the name of Hans Selye. Selye developed the General Adaptation Syndrome theory which outlines the physiological symptoms our bodies experience when we are, in a sense, in crisis mode.
The General Adaptation Syndrome outlines three stages as part of how we process stress:
Alarm Reaction Stage – The alarm reaction stage refers to the physiological symptoms our bodies experience – such as neurological, cardiovascular, and even hormonal. We’re willing to bet you’ve encountered this stage many times before and may recognize it as the precursor to the ‘fight-or-flight’ response. This is the body’s natural response for protecting itself from perceived dangerous situations and can be characterized by increased heart rate and a boost of adrenaline.
Resistance Stage – The second stage happens when the body attempts to adapt to the stressful situation, entering what we could call a recovery phase. This will occur when the stressful situation continues to happen, but also when it passes. If you perceive a continued threat, your body will keep generating the stress hormone cortisol and maintain increased levels of blood pressure, heart rate, and tightened muscles. If the situation persists for a longer period, a plethora of symptoms will occur – ranging from decreased cognitive functioning, altered moods, and even weight gain.
On the other hand, if the stressful situation passes your body will equalize hormone levels and all other physiological functions to the pre-stress norm.
Exhaustion Stage – The third stage occurs if exposure to the stressful situation continues and your body’s attempt to maintain the resistance stage becomes overwhelmed. This stage is characterized by drained physical, mental, and emotional resources which will invariably lead to burnout, a weakened immune system, lower stress tolerance, insomnia issues, and depression.
What are the symptoms of stress?
Although small doses of stress can be beneficial for you, helping you to build responses to events and building confidence in your ability to handle them, chronic stress can deplete your body’s resources and have prolonged negative effects on your emotional, physical, behavioral, and cognitive state.
Emotional symptoms
Decreased ability to practice self-care, relaxation, and meditation
Low self-esteem, depression, social withdrawal, feeling loss of control
Frustration, anger, moodiness
Physical Symptoms
Headaches
Stomach problems
Body aches, tense muscles
Insomnia or fatigue
Frequent infections, even serious cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure or stroke, skin and hair problems, or gastrointestinal issues
Nervousness, rapid heartbeat, shaking
Behavioral Symptoms
Procrastination
Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs or increased tobacco use
Appetite changes, eating disorders, and obesity
Cognitive Symptoms
Inability to focus or organize, restless thoughts
Constant worrying
Poor judgment
Any of these symptoms can happen separately or in conjunction with others. Since it’s impossible to eliminate the stressors that threaten us daily, it’s important to be aware of these symptoms and find mechanisms for coping. Practicing self-care may not eliminate stressors but it can help the body to relax and repair. This is why we encourage being mindful of your mindset and “thinking more about your thinking.”
How to Reduce Stress With Mindset
Mindfulness allows us to see stressful occurrences from a new and more balanced angle. Research findings show that mindset can be a large factor in how we view and manage stress. Knowing it can be a po