Stress is a complex phenomenon that can manifest in various dimensions. This article aims to introduce the multidimensional approach to stress, which is crucial for a more accurate conceptualisation of everyday stressors. By understanding the different dimensions of stress, individuals can adopt effective coping strategies that promote positive mental and physical health outcomes. This approach encourages individuals to stay within the healthy part of the stress spectrum and avoid chronic stress and exhaustion. With a better understanding of stress and its various dimensions, individuals can take proactive steps towards building resilience and achieving optimal well-being.
Perspective shift
The ubiquitous presence of stress in our lives has made it a convenient scapegoat for various problems. In today’s fast-paced world, where we are bombarded with a deluge of stimuli, including social media apps, news, and messaging services, it’s no surprise that stress levels are at an all-time high. However, are our current perceptions of stress aligned with its fundamental purpose, as intended by nature and evolution?
The prevalence of stress in our lives has led to the widespread habit of self-labelling, where individuals often reinforce it with negative statements such as “Oh, I’m under stress”, “Now it is stressful times”, “That’s all because of stress, there is nothing I can do”. Yes, you can. The reality is that stress is a natural and adaptive response to the challenges we face, and we can learn to manage it effectively.
Looking back to the origin of the stress concept we find that its author, Hans Selye[1], viewed it as unavoidable, and not always harmful. Yes, we have strong evidence that chronic stress causes illnesses and dramatically shortens our lifetime. On another side however, “complete freedom from stress is death”[2]. So, having a continuum with two extreme points leading to death, life will be somewhere in-between. And this is where the question of how to use stress wisely for creating personal well-being, is raised.
Like the view on technology – that could be life-saving or dangerous if used in the wrong way – the stress will be considered as some kind of our core technology that evolution generously gave us to learn and survive. It is a spark that is needed to light up your fire in the face of challenges, but it could burn you in case of being stuck in constant stress.
Life happens, it is our gift, and as it reveals we’re all going through different experiences, challenges, making choices and “harvesting” the results. At every stage of living this life, we deal with some kind of stress. This stress prepares us for action, it quickly mobilises all our resources to create a response, to help us survive and overcome dangerous obstacles. It is our humble ally that has become so desperately misinterpreted now.
Let’s follow the intention to shift the perspective of stress and consider various layers of its conceptualisation. By taking a more nuanced approach, we can identify a smarter way of managing stress that enhances our resilience and ultimately contributes to a more fulfilling life.
Dimension I [ENVIRONMENT].
Wilderness vs. Social World.
In today’s Western world, we no longer face direct physical threats to our survival from predators as our ancient ancestors did. However, we still encounter a range of social challenges that activate our stress response mechanism, leading to chronic stress if not managed effectively.
Excessive rumination about our problems and situations can trigger our stress response, keeping us in a constant state of alertness. It’s essential to recognise when this stress response is redundant, and there is no direct threat to our physical survival. By mindfully assessing our environment, we can better distinguish when stress is necessary for our survival and when it is not.
Dimension II [MODE OF LIFE].
Survival vs. Living.
To break the cycle of chronic stress, we need to recognise that survival and living are two distinct modes of life that require different approaches. While survival is focused on meeting our basic needs and protecting ourselves from harm, living is about creating a fulfilling and meaningful existence.
Unfortunately, our bodies and minds can’t differentiate between the stresses of survival and the stresses of daily life, leading to overreactions and the wastage of precious life forces. Instead of constantly pushing the stress button, it’s time to shift our focus towards growth and creation.
By recognising that we have already survived and shifting our focus towards living, we can cultivate a healthier and more resilient approach to stress. Mindful awareness of our stressors and their impact on our bodies can help us conserve our energy and direct it towards activities that promote growth and fulfilment.
Dimension III [THINKING STYLE].
Strongly self-negative vs. Conscious.
Our mind is very responsive to what we think and “every thought makes a physical reaction”[3]. So human biology is connected to our mental activity, every command the body receives from the mind will be fulfilled without hesitation. This is how it works.
The research shows that just our way of thinking about stress is vital to our health[4].
Believing in stress negativity could be very harmful, on the contrary – a positive attitude creates benefits. Check up on your beliefs about stress: maybe they are outdated? If you find that it is so, consider replacing them with more accurate and helpful ones.[5]
References:
[1] Tan, S. Y., & Yip, A. M. (2018). Hans Selye (1907–1982): Founder of the stress theory. Singapore Medical Journal, 59(4), 170–171.
[2] The Evolution of the Stress Concept: The originator of the concept traces its development from the discovery in 1936 of the alarm reaction to modern therapeutic applications of syntoxic and catatoxic hormones on JSTOR. (n.d.).
[3] Marisa, P. (2018). I Am Enough: Mark Your Mirror and Change Your Life.
[4] McGonigal, K. (2015). The Upside of Stress: Why Stress is Good for You, and how to Get Good at it. Avery.
[5] Personally, I prefer to use Rapid Transformational Therapy ® for reprogramming negative beliefs.
