OVERVIEW OF STRESS AND HOW TO OVERCOME IT

 Stress is a subject of discussion has several facets covering physical, mental and emotions and has been described innumerable times. Here I would only give a very broad and generalized explanation by defining it as a state of emotional disturbance due to reasons that could be from the external world or from inside due to impaired physical condition or disturbed mental state or even both external and internal world simultaneously. And these factors cause emotional misbalances. This leads to emotional pain which is remembered more than physical pain and impacts the behaviour of a person.  How we respond to a stressful situation reflects the state of our emotional balance. However, not all stressful situations equally impact all individuals. The response of every individual to the same stressful situation could be different. The reasons for this could be due to differences in, thinking process; attitude and mental state in which a person dwells when that momentous event occurred that initiated the stress. And further the period for which stress impacts an individual are also different with different persons. There are broadly two categories of people.

 A)        Those to whom the impact of the stress-causing factors persists for a longer period. B)        Those to whom the same stress-causing factors do not persist for a long period.

 I would now like to go into some details on each of the above categories of people.

 

A) Those to whom the impact of the stress-causing factors persists for a longer period

1.      Loss of adaptability to a changed situation.

2.      Rigidity in belief.

3.      Inability to tolerate the uncertainty of an impending event.

 

 

 

1. Loss of adaptability to a changed situation:

   This happens because of the inability to change one’s old habits. The reasons that prevent a person from developing adaptability in addition to old habits are the pattern of fixed thinking and beliefs. We human beings have to face time to time adverse situation which comes unforeseen and that causes loss of mental stability. Such people cannot accept unpleasant situations and hence gets mentally perturbed.

    2.      Rigidity in belief:

Belief impacts perception, and this helps in understanding factors that assist in anticipation of the probable outcome of a forthcoming event. These people find it difficult to come out of their old fixed belief because of the sense of uncertainty on the probable outcome and that is what induces stress in them. Rigidity in their belief based on old experiences creates a mental block from accepting the outcome of the ensuing event when it is perceived to be something different and unpleasant. from that of the past experiences.

  3.   Inability to tolerate the uncertainty of an impending event:

      Toleration per se is not a readily acceptable situation that all people encounter. It is a form of an adopted mental cushion that people concede to under circumstantial pressure. This happens when the ensuing situation is with the knowledge of the probable result when the anticipated outcome particularly is a negative one. And all people cannot tolerate an uncertain situation; from them the toleration of uncertainty becomes difficult. But in the face of such an event, it is worthwhile to follow the below-given quote.

 WHEN ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO CHANGE A SITUATION

--- WE ARE CHALLENGED TO CHANGE OURSELVES.

-          Viktor Frankl.

 So in the face of the given adverse situation, the above quote gives the way out that needs to be followed and maintain the mental composure with a conscious intention to alleviate the mental stress.

 B)       Those to whom the same stress-causing factors do not persist for a long period

Factors that cause stress in these persons may be the same as in the earlier category of people but the reason why it does not impact these people are explained below.

 1.  Ability to nurture, perceive and accept an adverse situation as an opportunity with the learning experience.

   2.   Ability to re-frame the situation by creating a choice to move out of the comfort        zone to  handle the situation in a different way 

1. Ability to nurture, perceive and accept an adverse situation as an opportunity with    

a learning experience. 

The person in this category focuses intently on the inner self by developing a positive self-image and bank on their strong positive attributes. This provokes intuitive thoughts that nurture the mind from getting distracted by the stress, thereby enabling in developing an enriching experience that guides thru the adverse situation. The primary reason why we need to indulge in the above-stated practice  is best stated in the below-given quote of an ancient Greek philosopher  

                          WE CANNOT CHOOSE OUR EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES,

BUT WE CAN ALWAYS CHOOSE HOW WE RESPOND

TO THEM.

           --------- Epictetus

 And the solution to the adverse situation comes from the way it is responded to.

 

2.    Ability to reframe the situation by creating a choice to move out of the comfort  

       zone and handle it differently.

    The reason why it is necessary to re-frame the situation in the face of an adverse one 

    also comes out from the stated in the above quote. The ability to do it would determine the way to respond to such a situation by developing the perception for acceptance of the same and exploring a better alternative way to handle it.