It’s Not Stress That Kills Us It Is Our Reaction to It‍

Stress is a killer. Or so many of us are led to believe. It’s an epidemic, or so the media would have us think. And it’s killing us all in millions. But the thing is that stress is not what kills you — it’s your reaction to it. The same goes for other life-threatening factors such as fear and anxiety. Indeed, when we stress about stress, fear about fear, and panic about panic we often make things worse for ourselves. Stress in itself is not a killer; our reaction to it can be lethal if we continue on this path without taking action. If you let stress become something that stresses you out more, then you are playing into its hands — literally encouraging the stress response which makes things worse for you, rather than better. How you react to stress will determine whether or not it kills you and how long you live with it inside of your mind and body. So read on to learn how NOT to react…

Don’t Let Stress Become a Habit

When we habitually stress about various things in our lives, we are actually reinforcing our anxiety and stress. We are increasing our heart rate, blood pressure, etc. We are literally digging ourselves into a hole. Start to break the habit of stressing about your life, and you will start to see an increase in your energy levels, mood, and a general sense of well-being. To do this, catch yourself when stress starts to creep in. When you feel that familiar knot in your stomach, or the tightness in your chest, or the racing thoughts in your head, try to recognize what it is that is causing you to feel this way. If you can nip it in the bud. Don’t let it become a habit.

Don’t Dwell on the Past

The past is done and dusted. There is nothing that you can do to change it. Worrying about all of the things that could have been, or could have been done differently, is only going to put yourself at risk of stress, anxiety, and all of the negative effects that these things have on your mind and body. If you dwell on the past, you will be missing out on the present. And the present is all that you really have. It is what is here, right now. All else is either a memory or a fantasy. Remember that the past is not where your future lies. It is not where your growth, learning, and betterment lie. It is where you have been. It is not where you are, or where you are going. It is a place not worth dwelling on. It is better to focus on the present and to nurture and develop the present in a way that makes it even more worthwhile.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

One of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce stress in your life is to exercise. You will also increase your endorphin levels, which help to reduce your levels of cortisol and other stress hormones. Exercise can help to reduce your blood pressure, too, which can be another factor in causing stress. Exercise can also help to improve your sleep, which is often negatively affected by stress, as well as help to manage your weight. Exercise can also be a great way to meet new people and make friends, so it can help you to reduce your levels of loneliness, too. There are so many benefits to exercise, and so many ways that it can help to reduce your stress, that there really is no excuse not to make time for it. If you don’t have much time to exercise, even brisk walking can make a difference. And you can always try to squeeze in some quick, short bursts of exercise whenever you have time — even if it’s just a few minutes at a time.

Practice Self-Care

Most people know that they should exercise, eat healthily, and sleep enough, but they don’t. It’s easy to let these things slip when you are stressed. It is easy to let them slip when you are busy, or feeling overwhelmed, or when it can feel like there is just not enough time in the day to do everything that you need to do. It is easy to let things slip when you have been doing them for a long time and they have become a habit — a habit that you can become too comfortable with. Self-care is important and should be an essential part of your daily routine. It should be something that you always make time for, regardless of whether you feel like you have the energy for it, or not. It should be something that is an essential part of your daily routine because when you are healthy, you are far less likely to become stressed.

Take Care of Your BFF — Your Body

Your body is your best friend, and it is what houses your mind. It is the vehicle that allows your mind to travel around, doing everything that it needs to do. When your body is not healthy, you are more likely to become stressed out. You will be more prone to developing health issues that can lead to increased stress, such as low energy levels, poor sleep, and poor diet. You will also be more prone to catching colds and infections, which can also increase your levels of stress. When you take care of your body you will be able to reduce your levels of stress, and you will also be better able to deal with stress when it comes your way.

Conclusion

Stress is a killer. Or so many of us are led to believe. It’s an epidemic, or so the media would have us think. And it’s killing us all in millions. But the thing is that stress is not what kills you — it’s your reaction to it. The same goes for other life-threatening factors such as fear and anxiety. Indeed, when we stress about stress, fear about fear, and panic about panic we often make things worse for ourselves. If you let stress become something that stresses you out more, then you are playing into its hands — literally encouraging the stress response which makes things worse for you, rather than better. How you react to stress will determine whether or not it kills you and how long you live with it inside of your mind and body. In order to do that, you need to recognize stress for what it is, and then take action to combat it.

Ashley Yeo 

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