What is Stress Exactly?
Being able to define Stress, is not a one line, one dictionary type of sentence. Just like each one of us is an individual, we all handle stress in our lives differently. So… why should there by only one definition to the word?
Here are some definitions I found:
- Stress: Everybody knows what it is, no one knows what it is.
- The nonspecific response of the body to any demand put upon it.
- Stress is the spice of life. – Hans Selye
- That confusion created when one’s mind overrides the body’s desire to choke the living shit out of some asshole who desperately needs it. – Author Unknown
From Webster’s Online Dictionary:
- 2. (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
- 4. Difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension
- 6. Distress
- Health: Forcibly exerted influence; pressure. Any condition or situation that causes strain or tension. Stress may be either physical or psychological, or both.
From MacMillian Dictionary:
- a worried or nervous feeling that stops you relaxing, caused, for example, by pressure at work or financial or personal problems
From Cambridge Dictionaires Online:
- great worry caused by a difficult situation, or something which causes this condition
There are a number of different definitions to the same word that can cause so much discomfort and anguish to us on a daily basis.
Just like stress has a number of varying meanings, it also has a number of faces. Stress can look very different from one person to another, or even from one situation to another. I heard once that if you go through life without letting go of some of the little things that have happened to you, then you may be a time-bomb waiting to explode. Picture a glass, clear and tall. Now put about 1/4 of an inch of water or juice in it for every time your blood-pressure went up within the last month. Okay, now put the same amount for each situation over the 6 months before that. Now the last year. The last two years. Three years. Is the glass overflowing yet?
My glass overflowed at about six months time! If we don’t help ourselves when something we think might be a small incident happens, then how is our glass ever going to keep from overflowing? It’s actually a neat test to do physically with a glass and water in your kitchen sink, just to see what you are up against on a regular basis.
Being able to have someone in our lives to talk to about those situations that get our blood boiling can relieve tension and “stress” the next time something comes along. So, if you have a pet you can play with or rest your head on, or a friend, partner or family member you can talk to, just for five minutes a day, the memory of those stressors will evaporate before the glass overflows.
It’s like you wrote this for me this week – work’s been really intense, and with this conference coming up, all of the stuff I have to get done in the next couple weeks is really STRESSing me out. Been trying to remind myself to do some self care (yoga, reading, etc.) and also *ask for help* so I can delegate some things. It’s painfully obvious what a direct path stress and mental wellbeing has to physical wellbeing… my stomach has been killing me!
(ps. so awesome that you have a blog now!)
Hi!
Thanks for your comments!
It does sound like a stressful time for you, but that you are listening to your body well! It seems like you’re keeping your relaxation skills at hand for when you really need them, that’s awesome!
It’s amazing how quickly the stress can creep up on us.
I hope everything goes well for you my dear and even try out a new de-stressing technique if the others aren’t really working.
~Leanne