Stress: What can we do about it?

Stress is a commonly thrown around word in the mental health world. But at the same time, it is a concept that can be hard to pin down. I’d like to explore a couple of different perspectives on stress and share some things we can do about it. 

The truth is, stress, angst and a touch of anxiety are part and parcel with existence itself. And thats okay! This type of stress is beneficial, as it motivates us to move around, connect with others, get good at skills, and engage with the world. Yerkes-Dodson created what is known as the ‘Stress Curve’ to illustrate how too little stress leads to boredom, too much stress leads to overwhelm, and just the right amount of stress allows us to perform at our best. The technical term for this optimal stress is ‘eustress’, as opposed to ‘distress’.

When you look at the curve, what comes to mind about your current stress levels? Can you identify what your main stressors are? How do you know, physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually that you’ve crossed over into distress or overwhelm? Do you have any reliable, healthy ways to bring yourself back to an optimal level of stress? 

1 tip I would recommend is to pause and double-check your media consumption habits. Oftentimes we can fall into this digital funk and we don’t even realize that we are consuming videos, politics, or music that is adding unnecessary stress to our minds and emotions. Get into the habit of NOT using your phone while lying in bed. That’s a good place to start.

Another perspective of stress is the idea that disturbance and health are two sides of the same coin(two wings of the same bird, you get it!) That is to say, living a flourishing life HAS to welcome both the treachery and bliss that is the human condition. Trying to evade the negative side of life often gets us stuck and unable to see the positive side as our focus gets wrapped up in the chaos. Well-being is not a mere enjoyment of an easy life but is constantly negotiated with ourselves and the outside world.

Pardon the repetition, but its important to understand that suffering is part of life. HOWEVER, we can’t let this disturbance consume our lives and put out the flame of our spirit(Purpose). Through the struggles of life, we must maintain our aim at a higher good. If we can remain true to both our possibilities and limitations, then our relationship to stress changes. 

This idea is summed perfectly by a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche who once said, "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how."  The ‘Why’ is your purpose and values, and the ‘How’ is your tolerance to stress. If our sense of purpose becomes muddied, our risk of feeling overwhelmed skyrockets.

This perspective doesn’t require you to travel to the Himalayas and become a monk. Rather it calls for a curious openness to what living is really all about. Our call to adventure becomes clear when we face our life honestly, and head-on. 

Is your current stress levels moving your closer to your goals, or away from them?  If your stress is feeling constant, it may be helpful to do a values alignment check-in. Are you currently living your life according to your strongest-held values? Has your stress put a wedge in your relationships? Have you drifted away from what is really important to you? Can you articulate what in life is truly important to you?

Learning about stress can help us make better decisions about managing it. I hope you found this article helpful and got you thinking about your stress in a different way!

Live well!

Spencer