Feeing “stressed” out? – what exactly do we mean by this?
Stress is the resulting tension or unease we feel when we (a person) interacts the demands of a situation; It is the uneasy reaction we tend to have when we come across the day to day pressures and demands of life (stressors) (APA. 2019)
So, why stress about Stress?
“Stress can be brief, situational and a positive force motivating performance (acute), but if experienced over an extended period of time it can become chronic stress, which negatively impacts health and well-being.” – American Psychological Association, (2020)
Traditionally, stress has viewed in two ways. Eustress, a positive tension to push us to perform and creates a feeling of urgency, and Destress, the kind of stress that causes those feelings of worry, anxiety, and depletes our energy and performance (Le Fevre et al, 2003) both a present in our lives, however, long term and unregulated destress can lead to chronic stress, that could eventually lead to further complications in one’s (mental) health.
What does Stress have to do with mental health?
The short answer is; Everything. The long answer is; it is in the very definition of what makes a (mentally) healthy individual – with a capacity to cope with the stresses of life, and work productively to their full potential (WHO, 2020) Mental health is an adaptive coping to the inevitable problems of day to day (Holford, 2007) In other words, it is not the absence of stress in one’s life, but the capacity to adequate cope; to push back on the demands of life through our internal resources and still enjoy life despite its challenges.
In a broader perspective, a life completely without stress (or demand) is no life at all. A degree of stress is necessary to make life worth living and too much of it, however may lead to some unpleasant effects. It is really about striking the right balance rather than being “stress free”
From stress to Burnout
What happens when we are experience heavy stress for a lang period of time?
Initially we will not feel it, but eventually, we start to reach a point of exhaustion. This point is called burnout. – It is essentially your mind and body “switching off” from excessive and prolonged stress (Bakker et al 2014).
Though burnout is not metal illness per se, it could affect one’s mental and physical wellbeing if left unchecked. One of the first signs of being burned out is feeling exhausted and emotionally distant. People experience burnout differently, here are some common symptoms:
| Physical Symptoms | • Fatigue,
• Muscular tension, • Headaches • Heart palpitations • Sleeping difficulties, • Gastrointestinal upsets |
| Psychological Symptoms
|
• Irritability and anger, or Mood swings
• Pessimism- feeling that things will turn out badly. • Feelings of being overwhelmed • Feeling that you are unable to cope • Reduced ability to focus/concentrate |
| Social Difficulties
|
• Diminished creativity and initiative
• A drop in work performance • Problems with interpersonal relationships • General Disinterest • Isolation |
If you or someone you know have experienced a number of the symptoms above, in the past two (2) weeks, especially if you have been “stressed” for an extended period, you might be experiencing the first few instances of burnout.
The best course of action is to take an extended break or vacation from what you are doing. If you are unsure of what to do, you can always find support and seek help from a professional; a counselor, therapist, or a physician
Remember: Your wellbeing is not only a responsibility you have for yourself; it is also a gift and obligation to those who love and care about you.
If you’d like one on one mental wellness support, please reach out and we can put you in touch with the right people.
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