6 Myths about Stress
Stress is inevitable. It is, indeed, a fact of life. One can’t live in this lifetime and not encounter stress and its many consequences. Needless to say, living life, one that is worth living, calls for stress management.
Like in a battle, managing stress primarily calls for a recognizing what we have to deal with: stress itself. Stress comes in many forms, and even manifests in different ways. From an upset stomach to headaches, stress can beat you, drag you down in ways you least expect. Knowing what stress is and uncovering the many myths surrounding it is a necessary, even inevitable part of any stress management plan.
Myth 1: Stress is destructive
Not entirely true. Stress is primarily an emotion, what we feel when we have handled things more than what we are used to. While stress sets off gamut of biological responses which are more negative than positive, it is worth noting that stress is normal and, yes, even helpful. When taken constructively, stress tells our body to react quickly, making us more efficient, focused, and even determined. Stress can help us when we need to work hard, especially during deadlines.
Myth 2: Stress is the same for everybody.
Wrong. Stress manifests in many ways, and more often than not in different ways for most people. What you consider to be stressful may not exactly meet someone else’s definition of a stressor. Knowing what exactly causes stress for you can help you get stress under control and even prevent it from setting in.
Myth 3: Stress always manifests physically.
We know we are stressed when we experience the common symptoms of being stressed. So does this mean that if we are from the symptoms, we are also stress-free for that day? No. Stress is a treacherous foe: it will creep in patiently and calmly, presenting itself as a monstrous obstacle. Stress more often than not camouflages itself, depriving you of signals your body is sending in its call for help.
Myth 4: I can’t do anything about it.
Stress may be inevitable and is, indeed, a fact of modern life. But accepting it as it is and doing nothing about it is like surrendering even before the battle starts. Stress management is not only about recognizing stress but planning your life and how you go about your daily activities without stress overwhelming you.
Stress often sets in after we have failed expectations, both ours and of others. Planning your daily activities after the principles of effectiveness, time management, and efficiency can help you accomplish seemingly gargantuan task with ease. But this plan doesn’t come without harm. An effective daily plan shouldn’t be just about “getting things done” but first and foremost about setting reasonable goals. Be kind to yourself; know what you can do from what you need to do.
Myth 5: Popular stress management techniques are the best.
Not so. There is no universal cure for stress. Everyone reacts to one stress reduction technique differently. Your reaction to stress, what causes sets it off, and almost everything about it only tells us one thing: that managing stress is really one’s personal journey. Each one of us reacts to stress differently. Managing stress is entirely dependent on us, our body, and emotions. An effective stress management plan is, therefore, one that is tailored to your body – and life.
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