Stress is a word that is very common for every person nowadays.
Stress is a word that is very common for every person nowadays. Even grade school children have the word stress in their vocabulary.
However, we need to understand that not all kinds of stress are bad. There is healthy stress. The type of stress that motivates us to finish our tasks and help us to meet deadlines. Stress that helps achieve new heights in life. Stress that saves us from danger.
When we encounter stressful situations, our brains will start to release different chemicals like epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol. That gives us different reactions. It increases our blood pressures and heart rate—the adrenaline rush.
When this happens, we become like SUPERHEROES. We have extra strength, extra focus, and more often, we don’t feel so much pain like SUPERWOMAN or the BLACK WIDOW. We can do the unthinkable and what is seemingly impossible.
I experienced when I was in college, I finished my term paper from introduction to conclusion overnight because I was in so much stress to catch the deadline the following morning.
The other kind of stress, which is the unhealthy stress, could be detrimental in our health.
The unhealthy stress happens when we are in constant fight-flight response mode. When our brain keeps releasing stress hormones and continuously experiencing an adrenaline rush, it will cause high blood pressure, heart problems, fatigue, and depression.
I bet you notice the aftereffect of adrenaline rush.
The sad thing is many of us are living a stressful life every day. Our body is always in a fight-flight response mode.
The uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The uncertainty of your relationships with your spouse
You are a caregiver of your sick loved ones.
Constant Worrying about what will happen to your children
The job that you hate every day that you are there.
Your boss that doesn’t understand your situation
Or even the loud music from your neighbor’s house that annoys you so much.
The good news is, there are different ways that you can do to lower your stress level. Unfortunately, not all stress management strategies you are using will permanently help you with your stress.
You need to control your stress from the root cause.
How are you going to control your stress from the root?
1. You need to identify your triggers. What events/situations, people do, sounds, taste, smell, etc., that cause your stress?
When you ask people what causes their stress, their answer will usually be what is outside of them i.e., husband or their job.
But the truth is, they are just your triggers.
2. Identify the root cause of your triggers. Where are your triggers coming from?
If you don’t know this, you will continuously be in a cycle of stress. You need to see the root so you can handle your stress from the source. The origin of your trigger may be a childhood experience or any experience that hurt you.
3. You need to uproot and release the roots of your triggers. Knowing and understanding the source of your stress is essential, but it is not enough. You need to release the cause of your stress.
4. Always be aware of your triggers. So it is crucial to spend time in silence to listen to yourself. I encourage you to start practicing prayer and meditation.
WHY Is it Important to Know the Origin of Your Stress Triggers?
You cannot control what you don’t know. If you know the real cause of your stress, you can handle it from there.
I used to live a very stressful life. I was always in a fight-flight mode. I worried a lot about what other people say to me; money stressed me out almost every day; I worried about my health; I always wanted to keep up with my self-image. It was exhausting and depressing.
I tried different stress management skills. I exercise every day, hang out with friends, go to church almost every day, but nothing seems to work. Deep within me, my emotional stress was killing me.
One day, I came to understand my triggers and their root cause, and I was able to release them. Then I develop 4 Superpowers: Self-Knowledge; Self-Mastery; Self-love; Self-Spirit Connection. They are my secret weapons against stress.
Now, I still feel stressed, but they are not in control of me now. I learn to Master my Stress.
My friends, I challenge you to take a closer look at the source that triggers your stress and release them. If you do not do it, you will continually live a life that is continuously triggered by circumstances that release your stress hormones.
How about you, what are your superpowers to overcome stress? Please share.
If you like this article, please share it. Thank you.
Comments