The Danger of Everyday Stress
All of us fear suffering. Sometimes, due to that fear, stress is created, and we try to steer our life path as far as possible from all “conflict zones” we may encounter.
“It wasn’t the depth that was drowning me, but rather the time I spent under the water.”
-Frida Kahlo-
While attempting to avoid all those intense and serious problems life presents, those events that cause us great pain (accidents, illnesses, divorce, aggression, loss, war or situations of conflict…), other things are constantly happening that are not so bad.
However, numerous studies on stress have demonstrated that the prolonged exposure to minor, everyday stressors are what lead to a large amount of mental health problems.
What causes this everyday stress that impacts us so much?
In our day to day life, there are many routines we go through that can be highly damaging to our physical and emotional well-being.
Some of the factors that, over time, do not contribute positively to nor benefit our well-being may be:
- Overprotective attitudes.
- Jealousy in a relationship.
- Workplace conflicts, or conflicts with a partner, family member(s), or friend(s).
- Poor communication with others.
- Yelling and loud noises that prevent relaxation.
- Avoiding responsibilities.
- Accumulation of things that need to be done.
It is important to keep in mind that, depending on the person, some situations or experiences may be more stressful than others.
As we consider this point, we should all ask ourselves… “To what point are the activities of my everyday life diminishing and harming who I am as a person?”
Consequences of minor stressors
It is interesting to realize that many of these unpleasant external factors pass unnoticed at first, then later on become more evident.
Because of this, we may feel defenselessness our guilty. This happens when we realize that many of the things that are causing us trouble today had never been an issue in the past.
Although it is normal to try and confront and put an end to whatever the problem may be, it should not be seen as an obstacle. We all know that many things in life can be changed, and that others will remain the same.
The important thing is that we feel that our immediate environment is comfortable for us and not hostile.
This has nothing to do with the ability to sacrifice, struggle, and be dedicated. It is a question of our emotional intelligence. It is difficult to row vigorously and consistently, therefore try as much as possible to find the right rhythm for you, and not one that makes the task even more complicated.
On the other hand, this feeling of defenselessness in the face of all of the stressors that surround us can grow and become chronic. We may become more irritable, experience more mood swings, externalize our discomfort, and feel unable to affect productive changes in our life.
Our routines will become like prisons for our feelings and dreams.
Depressive tendencies can even be developed as an inevitable consequence of these seemingly small “daily troubles.”
Therefore, seek out moments of rest and relaxation in order to recuperate the emotional and physical strength needed to continue on.
Every now and then, we all need to take a deep breath and give ourselves a moment. Disconnecting can help reconnect with more energy later on. It can help us with forming ideas and understanding our feelings more clearly. It allows us to renew and improve ourselves.
Take care of your routine, take care of your everyday life, take care of yourself.
