Stress is a description not a judgement. It is not a failing to be stressed, it is a fact in that moment, at that time. It is not a weakness to be stressed, it is a reaction, a reality, a state shift.
I used to interpret the word stress as a criticism, a judgement, a weakness and a failing. I was wrong, I was adding a judgement to the experience or labelling or being stressed. Rather, it is an observation. It is information.
Stress is not inherently good or bad
It is a physiological state which, depending on our perception, environmental stimuli and internal resources and awareness, can lead to challenges and negatively impact the whole: our health, our work and our relationships.
Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.
William James
When we feel stressed, adrenaline is released which leads to increased activation of our sympathetic nervous system and concurrently the activity of our parasympathetic nervous system is reduced, this impacts our pulse, blood pressure and is a move away from a ‘rest and digest’ state.
Eustress vs. Distress
Recently, I hosted a Stress Awareness workshop for the senior leadership team at a large retail corporation. One of the participants suggested, “Stress can be a good thing, it can encourage me to get things done without being too cautious” – and they highlighted an important point. There is a type of stress called eustress which can bring about optimal performance, one might feel energised and focussed with a sense of purpose and drive.
Most commonly, we refer to stress that is closer to distress. Our individual stress patterns are harmful when we regularly arrive and stay in a heightened stressed state which links arms and blurs borders with distress and can lead to fatigue, breakdown and burn out. This is the kind of stress that can lead to unhealthy and damaging behavioural, physical and psychological outcomes.
Ideally, we tap into and alternate between eustress and restful being, whilst avoiding distress where possible.
Awareness is key
There is no quick fix but change is possible once we begin to compassionately pay attention.
Firstly, we become more aware. When we notice with curiosity what our habitual stress triggers and patterns tend to be, we gain the capacity to choose a different response, to step off the stress carousel and break the chain.
Rather than repress and hide emotions like irritability, anxiety, overwhelm and anger – which we can regard as simply signals of disharmony – we might pause and consider ways to process the emotions we tend to let build up inside, adapt our workflow and consult our support system.
Remember, stress is not a judgement or a failing, it is an automatic physiological reaction which we can each understand better to change gear more smoothly and return to a grounded, centred state.
Louise Wellby, Head of Content