“Damn, what a day I had!” How many times have you said something like this? How often have you felt the nagging sensation of being overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and completely frazzled? How frequently do you burn the candle at both ends, hoping that your wick won’t burn out before the day is through? The facts and statistics about stress indicate overwhelmingly that we are a society dealing with too much stress in our daily lives. This stress, often perceived as ‘just a part of life,’ is literally killing us in more ways than one. Sadly, people everywhere seek vacations to escape it all—only to stress over paying for them and worry that everything will fall apart at home. Check out the latest statistics on stress, courtesy of the American Psychological Association. (The fact that the Psychological Association publishes this information proves that stress is, indeed, a mental health issue.) For many, it becomes an addiction and a silent indicator of their success in life.
Two-thirds of the population admits to suffering from stress daily! More than half of all people worry that their stress levels are serious, and almost 75% of people will seek some form of medical help (emotionally or physically) due to stress in their lives. Job stress accounts for more than half of the issues people face, and 87% of those polled report stressing daily about finances. See? You are not alone!
Twenty-five percent of the employed population routinely takes ‘mental health days’ off from work to recuperate. Over 121 million people are diagnosed with depression and are taking medications for it, with stress being the number one cause of this mental illness. This doesn’t even account for the large percentage of the population living with undiagnosed depression. Around 20 million Americans experience anxiety and panic attacks regularly. More people than ever are being diagnosed with alcohol and drug addictions in suburban culture, likely as a result of stress in their lives. Disturbingly, the numbers escalate, and the health issues—ranging from high cholesterol and heart disease to everyday colds and illnesses—can almost all be attributed to stress.
Indeed, look up nearly every illness you can think of, including cancer, and you will find that one of the leading symptoms or causes is stress. Many people don’t understand the link between the body and the mind and are naive about how dramatically stress affects them. They forge ahead, continuing on the same path until something as severe as a heart attack, stroke, or accident forces them to slow down and take a breath. Meanwhile, as this illness and disease are attributed to stress, millions seek out stress-relieving exercises and advice in a desperate attempt to regain control. Is it easy to stop stressing? No! However, if you are suffering from stress, you must ask yourself what you gain from being so stressed out.
Women suffer from stress three times more often than men. Perhaps it’s something inherent in the Venus and Mars dynamic that makes women more prone to stress. However, stress can only exist if it is allowed to persist. Many people rush their kids here and there, work ten-hour days, take second jobs, and engage in the rat race of life, seemingly accepting that stress equates to success. They push their bodies and minds to such an extent that, eventually, something breaks. And for what? Money? It certainly isn’t peace of mind. These same people have lived with the adrenaline rush of stress for so long that it has become second nature, and they feel stripped of their resources without it. Sure, they talk about it and even acknowledge that stress exists, yet they feel powerless and unmotivated to make changes that would ensure a better life.
Stress affects the body because each time you feel nervous, frustrated, sad, or worried, hormones are released. You can liken this to the way a Mustang feels when it hears a helicopter overhead. Just like the horses, you immediately go into fight-or-flight mode. This state is exhausting and meant only for times of danger or illness. Your body starts a million chemical reactions that weaken your immune system and flood your bloodstream with toxins. Every once in a while, this would be okay; you would recover, still scarred like the Mustangs, but able to function again. But daily doses of stress keep your body in this heightened state and wear down all the mechanisms that help you stay emotionally and physically well. Eventually, you break! For many people, this breaking point comes when it’s too late. Cancer has already taken hold, or they suffer a major stroke and are left paralyzed. For what? Because you wanted to get your child to baseball practice on time?
The stress-fueled way of life isn’t supposed to be normal. Add the societal advances in technology to the mix: you must check Facebook, respond to emails, and answer your phone every time you get a moment’s peace. You are always on call, pressuring your body and mind to perform 24/7, without breaks or days off. Ironically, technology is supposed to make life easier, but in reality, it complicates it. You join a gym, take a few yoga classes, or spend ten minutes every morning meditating, only to stress over fitting these stress busters into your life, which defeats the purpose.
Perhaps one of the most disheartening aspects of a life filled with stress is that children tend to absorb it as well. When it becomes a way of life for parents to be constantly worried, children believe this is the norm. They also face numerous stressors in their lives, from friendships to school and extracurricular activities. Coming home to parents who are too exhausted to engage with them offers little outlet for their own stress. This could be one reason children are experiencing health problems at such young ages. The stress felt by adults circles back to children and is passed on as innocently as genes. Do you really want your children to learn this from you?
Solutions to Stress!
There are numerous solutions to stress in your life, and you are likely aware of most of them. Following your dreams, doing things you enjoy, and taking time out to ‘smell the roses’ can significantly reduce your stress. Recognizing what you can change in your life and what you cannot is a crucial first step. Worrying less and accepting the notion that “it is what it is” will also help keep your stress down. Prioritizing yourself, your family, and your personal interests can lead to welcome changes that alleviate stress. Additionally, you must find a secure way to balance stress and enjoyment. You shouldn’t have to plan a grand escape just to find rest; you should be able to come home and leave the other aspects of your life in their place.
Of course, diet and exercise are important too. Again, you know this! You are simply choosing not to act on it. There are countless things you could do right now to make your life less stressful. Your reasons for not doing them are no longer valid excuses. Most importantly, you need to understand the internal reasons you invite and even encourage stress in your life. Once you can identify what you gain from a stressful lifestyle, you will be able to replace it with something healthier and more fulfilling. Fooling yourself into thinking you have no control over your feelings of exasperation only proves that, at some level, you are addicted to the adrenaline that stress provides.
It’s astounding that more than half of society accepts that their lives are too stressful. It’s ridiculous that good people, like you, allow stress and negativity to dominate their lives. Choose to break the cycle. Find something easy, natural, and enjoyable to help free yourself from this harmful addiction that could ruin or even end your life.
Stress isn’t always bad. However, when it becomes all-consuming, any positive effects are lost. The human body and mind can only handle so much stress before they break. It’s as simple as blowing too much air into a balloon and expecting it to hold it all; it just can’t, no matter how hard you try. Instead of making excuses and accepting this lifestyle—choose to enjoy your days. Choose to adopt an optimistic attitude and a positive approach to your life. Choose to rediscover your passion, to live and love with as much energy as you currently feel overwhelmed. Your life will be transformed.
You can no longer use the excuse that you don’t know how to change. You do. Surf the internet, do some research, and find what works for you to manage stress. The information is readily available, confirmed by every health agency today. Stress will and is slowly killing you. So—choose to live, and choose to live free of stress.
