Today, we live in a fast-paced world. Thus, in the hustle and bustle of our everyday routine, stress is a common companion that tags along with us. However, not every kind of stress is terrible. Yes! Stress can also be a motivator and can help you achieve and deliver. But how?
Do you know there is so much data and misconceptions surrounding this topic? However, rather than searching the internet, we will discuss everything in detail here. This blog will discuss stress, its impact on us, and how we can deal with it. So, without waiting any further, let us start our discussion and find answers to our questions.
What Is Stress?
So, when we mention stress, what comes to your mind? It is that feeling of mental tension that often accompanies our daily lives. We all, somewhere or the other, in our lives in a difficult situation must have faced a sense of tension. Hence, this state is generally referred to as stress.
But wait! Have you ever thought about why stress happens? Stress is a natural response from our body that pushes us to tackle the challenge or threat we face and deal with it effectively. Thus, stress is an emotional or physical tension one faces while dealing with challenging situations in life.
Dr. Mort Orman, a renowned Internal Medicine Physician and stress and anger expert, has been studying the impact of stress for most of his career. This has led him to write 23 books that focus on eliminating stress and better dealing with anger as it comes. In his newest book, Life Changing Anger Cure, he talks about a 4-step process on how individuals process their own anger and how to better understand anger. During his time on Frank About Health, he provided more insight into the 4-step process through perceptual filters.
- Step One: The Triggering Event: The triggering event refers to the event that causes the anger in the first place. This could be any event that causes anger, which could include stress at work, learning of a loved one’s illness, or getting bad news from friends.
- Step Two: Emotion Generating Internal Programs Triggered Within Us: The second step focuses on the internal programs that take place that trigger an emotional response within us. Many individuals are likely unaware of this process taking place, which can further feed into those emotions being triggered. In order to better understand this step, individuals should practice the art of filtering their emotions when faced with anger.
- Step Three: Invisible Internal Process We Haven’t Discussed Or Understood: This step focuses on the actual internal process taking place when faced with anger and further aligns the significance of filtering emotions. More specifically, this step takes place when individuals accept their internal filters as the truth, whether it is accurate or not. Steps two and three are not always known by an individual, but it is crucial to become more aware of the steps to gain a better understanding of how one’s internal filters should be used.
- Step Four: Outcome Of The Emotion-Generating Chain: Finally, the fourth step is the outcoming of the emotion-generating chain. This means that the emotion that one will end up feeling from an event takes place in this fourth step. By better understanding one’s own internal processes in steps two and three, there is the opportunity to better respond to strong emotions like anger.
By better understanding the 4-step process of processing anger, individuals can gain a better sense of their own control in managing strong emotions like anger and stress.
What Is The Impact Of Stress?
Are you recently experiencing headaches, hair loss, tiredness, and other symptoms? What can be the cause? One of the most common reasons is stress, which can significantly impact your physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Do you know that being under stress for an extended period without managing it can damage your body, mind, and even emotions? Not only that, stress can be one of the significant reasons for issues like heart problems, high blood pressure, obesity, and even diabetes.
If you overlook it for prolonged, chronic stress can also result in depression. Yes! Moreover, a person under stress will feel emotionally drained and face the symptoms of being tired. However, channeled stress can also positively impact your performance and productivity.
Stress can become the driving force behind our actions and help us deal effectively with challenging situations. It can also act as the motivational force behind our actions. But how can we manage stress? Let’s talk about it.
How Can We Manage Stress?
When not managed well, stress can have a significant impact. So, what can we do to manage stress? Well, you can exercise and spend time in nature. Moreover, you can also meditate and perform mindful activities. Some experts suggest you take time for hobbies and follow your passions and interests.
In addition, learn to say no in situations where there is a chance for you to be uncomfortable. Have you come across instances where people start taking alcohol and drugs to manage stress? However, you should maintain your distance from drugs and alcohol, as you will feel more stressed after using them.
Well, the best medicine is love and care. Hence, talk to your loved ones and take their support. Also, never hesitate to consult a professional psychologist who can help you in this situation.
Therefore, these are some things you can do to manage stress effectively.
Final Words
Hence, what did we learn? We discovered that stress is a sense of tension or worry that we face when in a challenging or demanding situation. So, it is always essential to channel stress and make it a motivating catalyst before it takes control and impacts our lives.