Unfortunately, life can be really tough! Many of us are living with stress for many hours every day. This means we’re essentially living in ‘survival mode.’ We are rushing to get the kids to school, the report finished on time, dealing with traffic, bills to pay, appointments to keep, etc. It’s no wonder that we are feeling stressed!
Do you know what the sad thing about this is? The degree to which most of us are living a hard life, a stressful life…. According to Dr. Joe Dispenza, (watch the video below), many of us are spending up to seventy percent of our days under stress, in survival mode! This is seemingly a result of our modern way of life….. and, it’s not healthy or sustainable for extended periods!
What Effect Does Stress Have On You?
I’m sure it’s easy for all of us to recall a time when we were really stressed. Our kids’ may have had an accident, the report due today was eaten by our dog, or we may have had a serious fight with our partner. Every day, there are thousands of things that can push our buttons and cause us to become stressed.
Whatever the situation, the effects are the same. According to the Mayo Clinic, ‘Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your mind and body.’ This is because when under pressure, our bodies release extra stress hormones, including cortisol. And cortisol can elevate anxiety and depression levels which can become severe if left unaddressed.
As if this is not bad enough, to compound the issue, more stress, depression, and anxiety, in turn, can lead to lower serotonin levels. This is a hormone we actually want more of because serotonin is a ‘feel-good’ brain neurotransmitter that produces calm, relaxed feelings.
“We face up to awful things because we can’t go around them. The sooner you say ‘Yes, it happened,’ the sooner you can get on with your own life.” – Annie Proulx
Ultimately, this sequence (raised levels of stress hormones and lower levels of feel-good ones) cause us many kinds of psychological issues. Because when our hormone levels are out of balance, it can contribute to, and worsen existing mental health issues. According to singlecare.com, a list of symptoms of hormone imbalance include:
- Depressed mood
- Anxiety
- Sleep disturbances (fatigue and insomnia)
- Changes in weight (gain or loss)
- Muscle aches, stiffness, or weakness
- Memory loss
- Brain fog
- Confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fast or slow heartbeat
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Hair loss
- Dry skin
- Temperature intolerance
As well as temporarily causing distress in our mental state of being, the effects of long-term stress also push our genetic buttons. And unfortunately for us, it activates the buttons that create disease in our bodies. All the stress, anger, frustration, hatred, etc. we feel is adversely affecting us, mentally and emotionally, as well as all others we come into contact with. And this includes our kids, our partners, extended family, friends, work colleagues, etc….. Nobody wins when we are stressed, especially us!
Life is busy with many things you can’t control, so it’s natural to be stressed. But You can handle it, right?
When we’re under pressure every day, we feel out of balance – the constant stress knocks our brain and body out of their natural homeostatic state. In contrast, if we’re relaxed within our environment, we would feel calm, relaxed, and at peace. But we’re not, and it is the stress of trying to control the outcomes in our lives that makes us question ourselves and feel that ‘life is hard,’ or ‘my life sucks,’ and ask ‘why do bad things keep happening to me?’
By coming to understand what is happening to our physiology when we become stressed, we can learn to recognize the symptoms as they begin to build up. And if we practice, we can learn how to alleviate and dissipate them before they become detrimental to our health and well-being.
In previous times, we may have been stressed because we were being chased by a lion or bear…. the stress was immediate and intense. However, if we got away, our stress would have left us as well. Our stress was a direct response to having to survive in a harsh environment that dictated only the fittest would survive.
Nowadays, the bulk of our stress is not caused by life-threatening situations. We tend to build it up, bit by bit, over time. And because we don’t know how to ‘let it go’ the effects remain and accumulate to negatively affect our bodies, minds, and emotions over the course of our lives.
“Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.” – Bernice Johnson Reagon
We can get stressed when our attention is going from this person to that person, from this task to that deadline, to the next meeting, to the kids’ problems, etc. And it’s when we’re not certain about outcomes (that’s why we’re thinking and worrying about them) that our brain signals begin firing incoherently.
It’s like we’re stepping on the gas pedal and the brake at the same time. There’s no clear intention or instruction given to our brains to see solutions to remedy our problems. We become ‘out of whack’ with our natural homeostatic state. This causes our hearts to lose their natural rhythm and begin beating unnaturally.
And this incoherence causes our hearts and brains to lose energy, and not function optimally.
The loss of energy, (loss of coherence between our hearts and brains due to stress) results in us feeling detached from our lives and from the ‘life force’ itself. When this happens, we begin to feel separate and alone, like we’ve got to do everything ourselves. Our hopes and dreams for a good life will no longer seem attainable, and we will not be able to have deep and meaningful relationships with others…..
These negative consequences happen because, while we are living with stress it’s not possible to open our hearts. We are existing in ‘fight or flight’ mode….. and when in this mode, there is no energy left for compassion, consideration, genuinely giving, or learning and growing. It’s a time when our energies are given to surviving as a priority!
Sucks, Doesn’t it? So what is the best way to reduce stress in your life?
So, how do we get out of a survival/stressed mode and into a more relaxed, open, and loving state of being? The secret is in the words ‘State of Being.’ Because although most of you will argue that our stress is caused by things that are happening to us, IT IS THE WAY WE ARE PROCESSING THE INFORMATION WE ARE RECEIVING FROM OUR ENVIRONMENT THAT CAUSES US TO BECOME STRESSED OR NOT.
Don’t believe me? Why can one person sit quite happily in a traffic jam while another succumbs to road rage? How is it that one parent sits quietly on the sidelines and enjoys watching their kids play soccer while another is yelling, screaming, and going red with rage? Why does one person pass out with fear on a roller coaster ride, while others scream with joy?…. the list of examples is endless.
But the point is this: It’s not the events, circumstances, or people in our environment that are responsible for the levels of stress we feel. THE REALITY IS THAT OUR LEVELS OF STRESS ARE ENTIRELY OF OUR OWN MAKING! Our stress is the result of HOW WE THINK about the stuff that is going on around us.
Our thoughts are responsible for the way we feel! And once we understand and accept this we can use it to our advantage, including having control over the levels of mental, emotional, and physical stress we feel and exhibit. Changing your thoughts will not only change how you feel but also how you react to stuff in your life. And by having coherent thoughts, your brain and heart energies will become synchronized. And when this happens, all aspects of your lives will improve….. because you will be a better person.
What are some things You can do now to help reduce stress?
I could now give you a big list, with explanations, of things to do that will help you control your stress and hopefully even eliminate it. This list would include things listed on many other websites like:
– Go easy on yourself…. Don’t expect to be able to do everything all the time
– Exercise to get the adrenalin pumping
– Relaxation exercises like yoga, tai chi, breathing, etc.
– Eliminate or reduce stimulants like caffeine and cigarettes
– Talk to supportive people
– Rest and take time out for your needs and wants
– Make time for the fun things you enjoy
– Learn to say no to others, and make your needs a priority
– Tend to your health, eat better and get enough sleep
– Listen to relaxing music
– Practice gratitude by reminding yourself of the good things in your life
– Identify people who cause you stress- Avoid them if and when possible
– Plan to do less so you can do things with ease instead of under pressure
– Remove stress-causing stuff from your environment. (Stop watching the evening news on TV)
– Accept responsibility for the way you are feeling and change your thoughts if you are not happy
– Stop trying to control things that are outside of your ability to control (including other people)
(And it looks like I have given you a list…..) However, as good as some of these suggestions are, they are not the best solution to managing and eliminating stress from our lives.
The best solution involves managing our thought processes.
So while many of these solutions listed above will help us reduce stress, they will come up short when it comes to eliminating our stress. This is because they are only focusing on the symptoms, (the feeling of stress) instead of the cause of our stress. The real and lasting solution to ridding ourselves of stress can only be achieved when we change/reduce/eliminate the initial cause of our stress….
Our stress is made manifest in our emotions and bodies because of the thoughts we have been having. So it is our thinking process that is the cause of our stress. And therefore it is our thoughts that need to change before our symptoms of stress will go away.
This is the only real solution to stress as well as other issues (including anger and fear.) These emotions only exist because of what’s going on within our internal world (thoughts and feelings.) So if we deal with the source of the issues, and their origin (the thoughts we are having) we can improve our state of being at all times.
And the number one best way of improving our thoughts and feelings and therefore our state of being is to practice meditation!
And before you say meditation is too hard, I don’t have time to waste sitting around doing nothing, I’ve tried it before and couldn’t do it….etc. etc. etc….. (I’ve heard them all before,) imagine what your life will be like in ten years’ time if you don’t begin doing something now to reduce your stress levels. Will you still be alive? Because you know that stress is a big killer these days……
So, my suggestion to you, so that you can improve the quality of your life, have better relationships, more fun, laughter, and joy, is to put aside 10 to 15 minutes each day to relax and become familiar with the thought patterns that are most often crossing through your mind.
Then: Identify those you don’t want to be there, those that don’t serve your best intentions for a better life…. And let them go! STOP giving your energy to them.
Instead: Begin to imagine the better life you wish to be living and put as much thought and emotional energy into ‘feeling’ what a better version of you is like in your ideal life…..and the more you do this, the more you feel it, the sooner it will begin to become your reality.
The Law of Attraction will make it so!
What has your experience with stress been? And have you overcome it, or managed to reduce it? Please let us know in the comments below, as our readers will also be able to benefit from your experiences.
I wish you all the best for your wonderful new lives based on the great things you wish to manifest for yourselves.
The article on managing stress is really insightful! Stress can take a toll on our health, so it’s crucial to have effective strategies to eliminate it. The tips shared here are practical and valuable. Thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to comment on my article, Bobi. I am happy the tips I provided are beneficial for you.
Unfortunately, most people still do not realize the important role stress has in creating dis-ease, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
The more people can learn to de-stress and not become stressed again, the better their lives will become.
I wish you a wonderful day and happy and healthy life 🙂
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
I couldn’t agree more about the video by Joe Dispenza that many are spending 70% of their days in survival mode battling with stress. Many people, I believe, operate under some form of daily chaos. This is because not having a structured daily plan serving as goalposts of what needs to be done, it can be very easy to become overwhelmed which is the precursor of stress.
Stuff happens because that is life, which is why I love the quote by Annie Proulx that we need to face up to awful things because we can’t go around them. The sooner we acknowledge this, the sooner we can get on with our lives.
Love your list of ways to relieve stress. I do so by being organized, listening to music, and taking long walks.
Ceci
Hi Ceci.
Being organized is definitely a great way to help avoid stress. If we have a plan and can achieve according to our plan, then there is no reason to become stressed. However, for this to work, our plan needs to be structured in such a way that we know we are capable of achieving all of the tasks we set for ourselves…. otherwise we could become stressed when we fail to meet our goals.
yes, life can be unpredictable at times…. even if we are following our plan. Sometimes stuff happens that we don’t want or don’t like. Being able to accept these things as they arise will go a long way towards us being able to remain relaxed and at peace. Resistance or the need to control everything will only create stress, and this is never a good option.
I enjoy long walks on the beach and in nature to maintain balance and a sense of peace throughout my days 🙂
I wish you all the best 🙂
Andrew
Ever since the lockdown has been over and I had to go back to school (I’m a teacher) I have felt lots of stress and the lack of freedom, a freedom that was taken away after the lockdown was over. It is that lack of freedom that I mourn.
Additionally, a teacher’s job is stressful in itself, and now that I am back that has become clearer to me than before.
When I read the following in your article, “The loss of energy, (loss of coherence between our hearts and brains due to stress) results in us feeling detached from our lives and from the ‘life force’ itself. When this happens, we begin to feel separate and alone, like we’ve got to do everything ourselves. Our hopes and dreams for a good life will no longer seem attainable” ==> that struck a chord with me, because I often feel like that, my energy is gone and I can’t use it for my own projects, websites, looking for online work, etc, and it saddens me because that’s what I need my energy for, not for the survival mode in stressful workdays.
It is so true that we are constantly in survival mode, I hadn’t thought of it before, and now that I’ve read it, it is sad to see how we waste our lives in survival mode for others when our own lives should matter more.
You gave me lots to think about.
I used to meditate years ago but I stopped, I sort of forgot to keep on doing it, but I should take it up again.
Hi Christine.
Meditation does not immediately solve all our problems, but it does help us get a clearer perspective on our lives and our relationship to our environment. And this is important because most of our stress is a result of what we are thinking about the stuff that is happening in our environment.
Meditation is a technique that we can use to separate our emotions from the stuff that is affecting us that we don’t want to be affected by. This helps us understand that the stuff that we are stressing over is, most of the time, not that important! And that we are NOT that stuff, and nor are we locked into reacting to it in ways that we have before…. ways that do not serve us (because they are causing us stress….)
Meditation allows our minds to open up to more options and opportunities in life…. It gives us a new perspective to begin to imagine a better life for ourselves. And this is so important because if we cannot visualize better circumstances for ourselves, we will just keep repeating the same stuff, over and over again.
Yes, I would definitely recommend to everyone that they meditate every day.
I wish you all the best, with much respect,
Andrew
Hi Andrew, as always a great article with lots of insights! Thanks!
Ever since I sold my company and moved to another country, I haven’t experienced much stress. That is, until lately, unfortunately. The virus didn’t get to me, but the talk about compulsory vaccination does.
I try to keep it under control through meditating and hiking. Some days I am good, some days I am stressed. It helps to keep reminding myself that it’s out of my hands how governments are dealing with or going to deal with this virus. Most of the time it helps.
Do you have a preference for relaxing music? Do you have tips?
Hi Hannie 🙂
I know what you mean. I’m not afraid of the virus at all, but I am increasingly concerned about the worldwide response to it.
I’m living in a province in southeast Asia that was a ‘deep red zone for well over a year…. so, in other words, we were told to be very afraid at all times.
However, the reality was, and still is, that I haven’t seen anyone sick with this ‘deadly’ virus…. and I own a restaurant which has between 200 to 300 customers every day!
Some of our staff (3) ‘tested’ positive and were locked away from their friends and families for two weeks…. even though they were not sick!
One customer (80-year-old man, heavy smoker) tested positive and was put in an emergency ward (access to oxygen) with 28 local ‘sick’ people…. and he was pissed off because he had no symptoms…. and during the 2-week prison sentence, he said none of the locals were sick either….. So what the hell is going on!!!!!
Most of the ex-pats living here, and the locals thought they were fully vaccinated with two shots. But the current worldwide trend now is that you now need 3 shots (and now 4 with the new more deadly variant) to be considered ‘fully vaccinated!’ If two shots don’t work, why do people think having a third shot of the same stuff is going to protect them?
So while the unvaccinated are being discriminated against, it is mostly vaccinated people who are ending up in hospitals sick…….
Yes, this situation also causes me to question my sanity and the sanity of the world we’re living in….. However, I have faith that the truth will eventually prevail, and that those who wish to inflict harm on those of us who don’t want to be experimental guinea pigs will be delt with accordingly 🙂
Relaxing music: I play music either with out lyrics, or with lyrics in a different language (normally sanscrit chanting.) This is because when im relaxing, I just want to experience the soothing effects of the ‘vibrations.’ I don’t want my brain to actively engage in the lyrics and search for the meaning of the song….
I enjoy Snatam Kaur: Grace
and including binaural beats and isotones like: Power Thoughts Meditation Club, and Music For Body and Spirit.
At the end of the day, my philosophy is thatit is in for our benefit that we need to do the best we can to remain as happy and healthy as we can, and anything we can do towards this goal is going to improve the quality of our lives, regardless of what is happening in the environment around us!
I wish you a happy and healthy journey 🙂
With much respect,
Andrew
Thanks (again), Andrew! It’s always a pleasure to know one is not alone 🙂
I am listening now to Snatam Kaur on Spotify. I think I will like it but want to let it sink in first. Great tip.
Big hug and kisses
xxx
Haha, You are welcome, Hannie.
I forgot to say that listening to different types of music can be an ‘acquired taste,’ as they are affecting our brain waves in different ways than the normal stuff we listen to.
However, give them a chance and I’m sure you will begin to like them soon enough 🙂
All the best,
Andrew
Hey Andrew, what a post. This was truly eye-opening.
I was particularly touched when you gave examples to prove that “Our stress is the result of how we think about the stuff that is going on around us”. This stuff is really of our own making, a fact that we most times overlook.
I’ll look to apply the simple principles of improving my “state of being” and my reactions to things that happen around me.
Thanks for the well-elaborated list on how to reduce stress levels, and the chart on human chakras was insightful.
Please, let’s have more of these posts often.
Femi
Thanks, Femi.
It’s nice to see you on my website again.
Our lives seem to be overly complicated these days when in theory, they should be becoming easier. And unless we know how to ‘let it go’ we are going to accumulate more stress in our bodies and minds… and stress, if unchecked, leads to sickness!
So, managing our stress, eliminating it, and avoiding taking it on are things that should be priorities in our lives.
However, our mainstream education systems don’t teach these things. Instead, they continue to heap more pressure and stress upon us each and every year. Therefore, we have to learn for ourselves how to remain healthy and balanced in a world that is constantly trying to attract our attention.
Slowing down, doing less, and taking time out for ourselves need to become priorities if we want to live healthy and happy lives. All it takes is a couple of 10-minute sessions a day to sit with our eyes closed and focus on relaxing our breath to begin the process of removing stress from our bodies and minds….. So, will you do it?
I wish you all the best,
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
In some ways, we are all aware of stress and some of its negative impacts on the body. What’s dangerous about it is the tendency to normalize living with it. When mostly everyone around us is in similar stress conditions, showing similar symptoms, we tend to accept it.
I love that you remind us that it’s a condition needing resolution. Even better the brainwave technology will be a huge move into stress-free living. What can I expect from the meditation video though? Why is it messing with my brainwaves or is that a good thing or is that just a naming convention?
Hi Una.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Stress.
You make a really good point about how stress is now considered a ‘normal’ aspect of life. However, living with stress for long periods is not how we are intended to live, and as such the consequences are detrimental to all aspects of our being, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Our brainwaves are constantly changing throughout the day in relation to what we are doing. They range from confused/stressed to calm and relaxed. The Zen 12 meditation audio is a tool we can use to help us choose to create a coherent calm state, that’s all.
The purpose of the meditation audio isn’t to ‘mess with your brainwaves’ but to entrain them into a more organized and natural harmonous state.
When we are stressed, our thoughts (and consequently our brainwave patterns) are all over the place. In other words, they are incoherent. The meditation Audio by Zen 12 uses specific frequencies to guide us into a more relaxed, less confused, and therefore more productive and healthy state of being.
For me, this is always a good thing and is very beneficial. There is nothing better than being guided into a calm uplifting and supportive state after having a stressful day.
If you haven’t experienced a deep inner peace before, I suggest you download and try the FREE meditation track from Zen 12 and give it a good. If you are sincere in your desire to become let go, it will work for you…. however, maybe not the first time. Because this will be a new experience for your mind and body, and as with learning anything new, it may require a few sessions for you to begin to experience the profound peace and calm that is possible.
I wish you a calm, relaxed, and wonderful experience,
All the best,
Andrew
Thanks for your great article on Stress Andrew,
You have given me a wake-up call right up front – when the Mayo Clinic is saying ‘Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your mind and body.’ This is the reminder I needed.
I am aware that it raised cortisol, raises the acidity in the body, and causes inflammation. This can all cause chronic degenerative diseases over the long term.
Your list of the things I can do to lessen my stress is really helpful. You have some really great and practical steps here.
I’ll keep your post open on my laptop to ensure I regularly read and implement these !!
Thanks so much!
Hi John,
I’m happy you got the wake-up call that you needed…. now you just have to follow through with the tips on reducing stress to improve your life.
I know it can be really hard to break from our old habits, however, if we focus on the ‘benefits we will enjoy by changing’ instead of ‘having to change’ we are more likely to succeed.
And the benefits of less stress in our lives basically come down to one thing…… a better life experience for us! So why wouldn’t we want to adopt a few new habits into our lives that will result in us feeling better?
I wish you all the best on your journey,
Andrew
Stress can make you do funny things, and make you feel ways that you don’t want to, and make you act like someone you are not stressed which is deadly. You can get so depressed it can hurt your heart and give you bad anxiety for the rest of your life and you may have to take medication.
This article will give you tips and tricks on how to destress yourself without manifesting your emotions in real life and making you regret yourself.
Cheers,
Mathew&Deloris
Yup! Stress sucks….. and we should do our best to avoid becoming stressed because it is detrimental to our whole life expeerience.
And I always recommend learning to meditate as the number one practice to learn to help us manage our stress.
Thanks for visiting my website, once again,
Have a great day,
Andrew