Is stress the disease of the 21st century?
This received idea is doubly inaccurate. On the one hand, stress has always existed. It was he who made our ancestors run fast enough when a ferocious beast seemed ready to attack them. On the other hand, stress is not a disease. It is a physiological (natural) reaction of our body to a danger that we perceive. What is fair, however, is that the stressin its modern version can more easily become chronic and therefore harmful. Our ancestors, always them, had time to breathe between two dangers. Today, it’s different: because the “threat” is essentially social, you have to perform constantly and in all areas of your life, the pressure never really subsides.
If it is a defense mechanism, how can we act against it?
It is indeed an automatic reaction over which we do not necessarily have any control once it is triggered. No need, therefore, to self-flagellate when you feel the stress rising. Or to envy those whom nothing seems to ever reach. We do not all resist identically to the same (potentially) stressful situations. Like our DNA code or our fingerprintswe also have our way of reacting to stress.
So there is nothing to do when you are very sensitive to stress?
Fortunately, yes. It is quite possible to increase its resistance threshold. It sometimes goes through big questionedand profound changes. But before starting any work, alone or accompanied, it is essential to get to know each other. Bearing in mind a very important point: the other is not stressful, it is we who are stressed. This thought allows you to no longer feel like a victim.
Are meditation, yoga the right answers?
Their popularity shows how beneficial these activities can be. But they are not suitable for everyone. Some will be much more relaxed by going for a run twice a week. But cardio activities such as jogging or bike, are not necessarily a panacea either for people who tend to dwell. Better they practice a team sport and hang out with friends. Hence the importance of knowing yourself. To be considered as anti-stress, an activity must reconcile an action of the body and concentration. Even if it’s relaxing, watching a movie doesn’t fall into this category, whereas knit, gardening or coloring, yes!
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