Stress, in small doses, is known to be a motivating force. It can push you to excel, innovate, and achieve beyond your expectations. Nothing wrong with an adrenaline rush. Adrenaline rushes are like nature's rollercoaster. They shake things up a bit and make you feel more alive. Whether it's from sport, a thrilling experience, or even a close call, that surge of adrenaline can be quite exhilarating. It's your body's way of saying, "Focus, pay attention, things are getting interesting.
When stress becomes your constant companion, the continuous release of adrenaline and other stress hormones like cortisol can transform into an unrelenting force. It can impair our cognitive function and be a major barrier to your change. This impaired cognitive function, a sort of brain shut down, can lead to a range of issues, from difficulties concentrating, trouble making decisions, a fear of the unknown, coupled with the exhaustion of dealing with present challenges can create a paralysing effect.
The shutdown isn't a literal one, but more of a shift in focus and functionality. It's like the brain prioritises the perceived imminent danger, and in a modern context, this danger might be the stressor itself—whether it's a demanding job, financial pressure, an over whelming project, personal issues, a toxic boss or work environment.
What are the signs?
Physical signs of stress do not just linger in the mind, it manifests physically. Headaches, sleep disturbances, and a general feeling of fatigue are common signs of prolonged-stress. When dealing with these physical manifestations, the mere thought of navigating any life change such as job applications, interviews, meeting new people, learning new skills can feel overwhelming.
The Illusion of Comfort in Familiarity
Staying in a stressful job or role often provides a warped sense of comfort. There's an interesting psychological concept called the "status-quo-bias," which suggests that people tend to prefer things to stay the same by default. This can apply to various aspects of life, including career choices. Even if a job is stressful, the predictability of the stressors can create a strange sense of comfort compared to the uncertainty that change might bring. The fear of stepping into the unknown becomes a powerful deterrent, convincing you to endure the known discomfort rather than risk the uncertainty of change.
Breaking Free
Strategies for coping and moving forwards
The last thing many prolonged or chronically stressed people wants or needs to hear, is the suggestion that they “should” prioritise their own self-care. It’s like telling a depressed person to cheer up, or an unfit person to just get fit! When a client finds themselves in this situation, being advised to breathe, do yoga or meditate can sound flurry and frankly bloody annoying.
Start the journey back to a stress free state in baby steps.
Starting the journey back from stress involves small, manageable steps that gradually build resilience and well-being.
Get it out of your own head and onto paper. Just start writing, identify your stressors. Make a list of the stressors in your life. Sometimes to action of identifying and acknowledging them can be of some relief. Once you know what you're dealing with, you can start to address each stressor one step at a time.
Seek Professional Help
Consider seeking support from a mental health professional, a coach or trusted mentor. They can provide strategies and tools to manage stress and offer a safe space to explore your next steps.
Connecting with others
Share your feelings with a trusted friend, family, or a support network. Sometimes, talking about what you're going through can provide relief, and others might offer valuable perspectives or assistance. When you say what is going on for you out loud, something shifts…so use your words.
Small acts of self-care
Can be built into your day. It could be as simple as taking a short walk, enjoying a cup of tea, or spending a few minutes with a hobby you love. These moments of self-care can be powerful in reducing stress.
Deep breathing - because it really works…Take a few minutes each day to practice deep breathing. This can help calm the nervous system and bring your focus to the present moment. Apps or guided sessions can be helpful if you're new to these practices. apps-that-help-you-breathe
When you are feeling a little LESS stressed or you have engaged professional help, the next steps can be Establishing Boundaries. When you are stressed or feel you are in imminent danger, saying no can seem either very difficult or impossible. Setting clear boundaries helps prevent the accumulation of stressors by managing your commitments and workload.
Last, but by no means least, healthy sleep habits are gold. We all know it, lack of sleep can exacerbate stress. Establishing a bedtime routine and create a comfortable sleep environment.
If you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed in your job and can’t make a decisions to move forwards, our empathetic and experienced coaches at Onelife Coaching are available for a FREE chat and can encourage you to take your first baby step to start living the life you love!
If you think you are chronically - please ask for help. Do not waste any more precious time https://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/resources/#videos
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