our need to escape can take a strategy in line, with emotional special-ops
They’re in and out in the blink of two eyes while marking the objective and hitting it hard. When it comes to our general and mental health, there are times when a similar approach could work just as well. A method or manner allowing us the means to silence the worries and constant doubts. For some, it’s a deep breath or squeezing a stress ball whilst for others, stretching out helps to ease the pain. Whatever we choose as the cortisol sinks, the seconds are counting to the very next round with stress and anxiety reassembling again. Fortunately, amongst solutions, Hans Selye, the endocrinologist and founder of stress theory had this to say:
‘Man should not try and avoid stress any more than he would shun food, love or exercise.’
It seems counter-intuitive but studies show that embracing stress as part of life helps to improve your health, rather than the opposite. Well, for a start, acceptance as a strategy for emotional regulation has long been supported by psychotherapy practitioners which in turn, changes your approach to pressure. So, instead of leaning into self-destructive behaviour to ‘escape’ an inner turmoil, it’s the mindset that matters in terms how you see yourself and your capabilities. In fact, as Dr Selye also commented:
‘It’s not stress that kills us; it is our reaction to it.’
Naturally, acceptance is a false friend when you’re trying to get ahead and as we challenge our status, in various ways. So, the markets, big and small and the extra hours in a shift offer hope for a change, in our reflection. Ironically, it’s when we nod to things that are holding us back that progress finds a way through and that personal, self-intervention requires data collection of your thoughts and feelings, regrets and truths.
So, what should we do in the moment when it comes to our mind’s health? Well, maybe, meditation is an option but which one do you pick with such a vast array from Mindfulness; Focused; Movement and Spiritual to Mantra; Transcendental; Progressive and Loving-kindness? Add to that visualisation, too, and maybe you’ve been feeling a particular way for some time or it’s recent, in its arrival. Either way, recognising your stress and or a health issue first will always be a clue to doing something about it and maybe that leads to the most important thing of all. Existential honesty but above all, with yourself. In fact, as you cross-examine you in the witness box, you might sweat and squirm, delay and deny while all the time twisting some famous old lines.
I, want the truth!
Can I handle, the truth?
Will the witness please just answer the question? How, is your day-to-day experience? How, are you coping under pressure? Is anyone affected, beyond you? Do you even have anyone, to talk to? If not, there are websites with support services waiting. If you do, then take that step and say something, anything, just to open a conversation.
Of course, stigma is real but then so are statistics and a lesser of evils is surely the way through. Well, it seems that way and in returning to the father of the General Adaptation Syndrome, Hans Selye: he also said:
‘Fight always for the highest attainable aim; but never put up, resistance in vain.’
So, it turns out stress is our friend in the strangest of ways: meaning, who exactly needs enemies?
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References:
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Tan SY, Yip A, ‘Hans Selye (1907 – 1982): Founder of The Stress Theory’, Singapore Med J. 2018, Apr;59(4):170-171. doi: 10.11622/smedj.2018043.PMID: 29748693; PMCID: PMC5915631, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5915631/
Hans Selye Quote, ‘Man should not try and avoid stress any more than he would shun food, love or exercise’, BrainyQuote, 2024, accessed 27th January 2024, https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/hans-selye-quotes
Irene Messina, et al, ‘Neurobiological Models of Emotion Regulation: a Meta-analysis of Neuroimaging Studies of Acceptance As An Emotional Regulation Strategy’, Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Volume 16, Issue 3, March 2021, Pages 257-267, accessed 27th January 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsab007
Clifton B. Parker, ‘Embracing Stress Is More Important Than Reducing Stress, Stanford Psychologist Says’, 7th May 2015, accessed 27th January 2024, https://news.stanford.edu/2015/05/07/stress-embrace-mcgonigal-050715/
Hans Selye Quote, ‘It’s not stress that kills us; it is our reaction to it.’, BrainyQuote, 2024, accessed 27th January 2024, https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/hans-selye-quotes
‘9 Types of Meditation: When To Practice Each One Of Them’, Medical Centric, Youtube, 24th December 2022, accessed 27th January 2024, https://youtu.be/etswgZm1g7k?si=_2szSkYrgfbXwRvO
‘Adaptation Syndrome’, Science Direct, Encyclopedia of Toxicology (Third Edition), 2014, accessed 27th January 2024, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/adaptation-syndrome
Lily Rothman, ‘Meet The Doctor Who Changed Our Understanding of Stress’, Time Magazine, 10th March 2016, accessed 27th January 2024, https://time.com/4243311/hans-selye-stress/
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