Stress is your body’s way of telling you to slow down. The body’s reaction to an unpleasant situation that demands a reaction or response, stress manifests differently in different people. Not everybody experiences stress the same way. However, there are several myths about stress that make rounds every now and then. Here are 9 such myths that you should not believe!
What Causes Stress?
You can experience stress from your environment, your body and your thoughts. High pressure at work, a rough phase in a relationship, or even a change in your environment can lead to stress. While we often talk about the physical responses to stress, such as muscle pain and fatigue, the emotional responses are left ignored. Emotional responses to stress include lethargy, loneliness, depression or even a feeling of worthlessness.
Myths About Stress That Are Untrue
1. Stress Is Always A Bad Thing
While excessive stress isn’t good for you, stress in itself is not a bad thing. Stress, when managed well, can make us feel productive and accomplished. The feeling of relief after submitting a difficult project is the result of the “good stress” that pushed you to complete the project.1
2. Everybody Responds To Stress In The Same Way
We all deal with and respond to stress differently, based on our coping mechanism. What can be debilitating for one, might be a manageable situation for another. If your best friend deals with stress in a calm and composed manner, and if you cannot handle stress as well as her, it does not mean that there is something wrong with you. Everybody has varying degrees of tolerance towards stress, and not everybody experiences or responds to stress in the same way.2
3. Stress Is A Choice
Often, we are told that it is possible to eliminate stress if we “choose” to. Nobody likes stress, and nobody voluntarily chooses to experience it. Stress is our emotional and physical response to changes within and outside the body. While there are ways that help handle stress better, it takes time to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. But, it is important to keep in mind that we don’t have control over our body’s reaction to uncomfortable or high-pressure situations.
4. Stress Is A Result Of What’s Happening In Life
It is often assumed that you won’t be stressed if everything in your life is going perfectly well. However, stress is not always a result of life events. If there is a particular situation in life that is difficult to deal with, it easy to identify that situation as a cause of stress. But not all diagnoses can be done this easily. Your mind and your thoughts are complex, difficult to understand, and are capable of causing stress.
5. Minor Symptoms Of Stress Can Be Ignored
Be it a headache or a fever, most of us do not immediately head to the doctor. A general feeling of lethargy, tiredness, or a lack of interest are minor symptoms of stress, but they shouldn’t be ignored. Diagnose and manage stress early on – your body will thank you for it later.3
6. No Symptoms, No Stress
Stress is not always indicated by low energy levels, fatigue, muscle pain and insomnia. Sometimes, constantly falling sick and suffering from sudden allergies are also the symptoms of stress. However, the absence of these symptoms does not mean that the stress is also absent. Often, the medication we take masks the symptoms of stress, without actually reducing stress.4
7. Popular Stress-Relieving Techniques Work For Everybody
There is no one universal stress-relieving technique. We are all wired differently, and respond to different techniques of stress relief. While yoga, meditation, working out and deep breathing can help us handle stress better, it might not work for everybody. It is important to find out what technique works for you, and practice it regularly.5
Since stress is psychological in several ways, not everybody understands it. If you or your loved ones are going through difficult, stressful situations, do not blindly believe these myths. Understand the cause of stress, and learn how you can handle it better.
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