Stress is something that we all struggle with. Perhaps not all the time. Perhaps some more than others. But stress is something that all of us experience. It is, arguably, a characteristic of modern life. It’s a small word with many meanings and a major impact on life. It is also something that can be better understood so let us look at some myths and let us clarify a few truths.
Myth: Stress can be cured. No, sadly. Stress is part of life and is even “normal” in certain circumstances. There is no cure for life! Stress can be managed. It can be prevented. It can be treated. It cannot be cured. In order to better cope with stress it is important to acknowledge that a full “cure” is not possible. This is really a key learning that we should all pause to consider. The goal is to cope better and perhaps to reduce stress, but eradicating stress is a fantasy. Think on it.
Myth: Drastic lifestyle changes are always necessary to manage stress. Sometimes maybe, but certainly not always. Lifestyle changes are, indeed, often advisable if you wish to manage and reduce stress in your life. However, drastic changes would be excessive in most cases (not all, to be fair), and may even be a source of stress (change often is). There is hope here: in order to feel better and cope better you may well need to change a few things but it is unlikely that you’ll need to completely reinvent yourself.
Myth: Sedatives and “calming pills” are a good treatment for stress. Not often. While such medications may relieve some of the symptoms of stress, they do not address the real problems and, even worse, they are usually habit forming. Eventually, you are quite likely to still be stressed, and have a drug addiction to boot! There are instances where some medication can be helpful, yes, but for most people most of the time, medication is not the answer. By all means see your doctor to consider a prescription, but please do not rely on medication too heavily. Whatever you do, please do not self-medicate or use medications other than as prescribed.
Myth: Thinking about stress makes it worse. Not really. At least not usually. Thinking about what makes you stressed, how it affects you, and what you might change for the good, is really the first step to managing stress. Becoming obsessed can worsen things, yes. But an honest look-in-the-mirror and a realistic self-assessment is in fact a good idea. One subtlety here: if you just think about how worried and stressed you are this can become unhelpful over time – you might create obsessions and “think yourself sick” in this manner. But if you think about your life and stress, with the idea of making some changes and improvements, this is usually positive and constructive and healthy. You cannot manage what you do not think about. Do think about stress, but try to think in a positive “what-can-I-change-and-improve” manner.
Stress and anxiety and worry are real concerns in our modern world. Some simple and honest understanding can help you to cope better and to thrive. This is how we develop reliance. It takes some courage and some honesty but it can be done. Think about it.
Written by Dr Colin Burns
