Myths About Stress
By Sara Butler
There are a lot of assumptions floating around about something each and every person on the planet has to deal with every single day: stress. Stress is something you must learn to deal with in life and part of that is understanding the facts about it. Here are some of the biggest myths about stress and the truth behind it.
You Should Ignore Stress
Some people are of the mind that if you simply ignore stress, then it will go away on its own. That's simply not true at all. Stress is harmful to your health and your wellness, raising your risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, sleep issues, mood disorders, and gastrointestinal conditions if you don't deal with it. In fact, attempting to compartmentalize stress will only make it worse in the long run.
The best course of action is to identify your stressors and then take action to deal with it.
All You Need is Willpower
Some people think that stress is something that can be willed out of existence, but that's not true either. You don't simply get over stress. Instead, you need to make some lifestyle changes and develop appropriate coping mechanisms to help.
It's All in Your Mind
Stress may not be something you can physically touch but that doesn't make it any less real. Stress can impact your mental and physical health, making any existing conditions you may have worse. If you are struggling with stress, don't think that it's all in your head. Reach out and get some help for this very real thing.
Everyone Experiences Stress the Same Way
Just as with almost anything else in life, stress is not a one size fits all type of thing. There are a variety of ways stress can manifest itself and those differ from person to person. Stress triggers also differ between people. That's why you shouldn't worry about stress that others experience and try to compare yourself to them. No two people are the same and neither is their stress.
Stress is Healthy
OK, so there may be some situations in which stress is beneficial, but on the whole, it is not healthy. Everyone might feel stressed before a speech or big presentation and worried about how they'll perform, resulting in a boost of energy or alertness. But when stress tips the scales over a certain point it will be damaging to your health and wellness. The longer stress goes on without dealing with it, the worse it can make you feel.
Stress is something you have to deal with, so it's best to learn the truth about it and use it as a starting point to effectively work out the stress in your life.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Des Peres, Mo.