Where Does Stress Come From?
From the time you were young you probably heard people talking about being stressed out. Then the moment you experienced stress for yourself, you immediately knew what everyone was complaining about!
Stress is a part of life, but where does stress come from? What is the origin of stress? This is a question that many people ask but can never quite pinpoint it.
Where Does Stress Originate?
If you ask 10 people where their stress comes from you’re likely going to get answers such as their kids, family, work, and especially money. These are stress factors that are common to most of us. Yet, when you receive these answers and really understand them you’ll notice that these are causes of stress but not where the stress actually comes from. So where does stress come from?
There are many different schools of thought about where stress comes from. The fact of the matter is that stress is our body’s response to the demands that we place on it. The demands may be physical, mental, or emotional in nature and when we place these demands on our body, chemicals and hormones like Cortisol and Neuropeptide Y are released into our bodies and then we feel stressed.
Stressful Thinking Leads to Stressful Feelings
Some believe that stress can stem from our own minds. This is true to some extent because we can cause stress through our worries, fears, and anxiety.
We often get into the habit of negative thinking where we can somehow convince ourselves about things that are untrue. For example, have you ever convinced yourself that you aren’t good enough, smart enough, or pretty enough to do something? This negative self-talk creates stress within our own minds. Unfortunately, these thoughts are going on unbeknownst to us because we have come to accept our negative thoughts as truth, even when it’s far from it. This is precisely why we need to begin to tame our negative thoughts and replace them with positive truths.
Stress is a normal part of life so we’ll never be able to escape it. What really matters is how we deal with stress, but we all experience stress differently; hence there’s no universal stress treatment!
Dealing with Stress
As we now know, stress is a bodily response to the pressures and demands that we place on ourselves in every day life. To limit the negative effects of stress – such as heart attack, breathing problems, reproductive problems, and stomach problems – you need to learn how to actively manage your stress. There are many simple stress coping strategies that you can employ such as:
- Getting more exercise
- Using positive self-talk
- Getting more restful sleep
- Eating a healthier diet
- Knowing your work limits
- Saying no when you need to
- Asking for help
- Creating time for fun
- Using positive imagery
- Employing deep breathing techniques
- Listening to calming music
- Clearing your life and workspace of clutter
- Keeping things simple
These are all effective ways to deal with the stress in your life, however, you need to remember that the goal is to proactively manage your stress. If you react to your stress, you’ll be spending most of your time putting out fires. Instead, if you constantly implement just a few of these stress management techniques, you will live a healthier, happier, and more productive life!
Stress is something that affects everyone. Stress does serve a purpose and there’s even such a thing as good stress. However, when you feel like your stress is getting out of hand, the best thing you can do for your body is to look for natural stress relievers.
Here are some techniques you can use to reduce your stress level:
Practice yoga and meditation. Yoga and meditation are ancient arts that have been proven to work. They can be practiced separately or together. When you connect the mind, body, and spirit in a healthy, peaceful fashion you feel more relaxed and rejuvenated.
Enjoy the benefits of green tea. Green tea is a natural herb that you can drink or take in capsule form. It’s loaded with beneficial antioxidants to help you achieve a healthy lifestyle. It’s a natural stress reliever and helps boost metabolism to energize you. It may even help with weight loss.
Go for a walk. Many people think that going for a walk is only good for your physical fitness. However, walking can benefit you spiritually and mentally as well. Staying even moderately active increases oxygen levels in your brain, which also improves your mental state. Plus, a 20-minute walk gives your mind a chance to reflect and rejuvenate.
Keep a diary. Keeping a diary can help you unload your thoughts in a private manner. You have the benefits of knowing that your secrets are safe and you can still vent in the process. Venting on paper just might prove to be a great stress reliever.
Try aromatherapy. Many herbs can be used in aromatherapy to calm you in a natural way. Try lavender, rosemary, or peppermint for some popular choices.
Get a full body massage. A massage is a great way to relax your muscles. It also helps to get blood flowing properly throughout the body, which naturally reduces stress.
Listen to music. You may want to try some traditional relaxing music such as classical or world music. However, everyone is different, so experiment with different types of music that you might find relaxing.
Use stress-reducing herbs. Herbs are affordable, natural, and a great way to relieve your stress. There are many herbs that have been known to promote calmness and overall feelings of well-being. Some of them include chamomile and St. John’s Wort.
Take a warm bath. Taking a warm bath is beneficial to your body and mind. The warmth will help your body relax while the peaceful time to yourself will help you achieve a balanced mindset.
Do something funny. The saying “laughter is the best medicine” is no joke! Laughing can definitely help you to relax and therefore reduce stress. Do something you personally find funny, like going to a comedy show or hanging out with a good friend.
You’ll soon find that there are endless possibilities for natural ways of reducing your stress. Your job will be to find out what works best for you personally. As long as you take time out of each day to take a break and unwind, you’ll be well on your way to reducing your stress.
Photo Credit: anna gutermuth via Compfight cc
