There would not be one single day when we do no speak or think about ‘STRESS’ at least once a day… but, the point is, are we really ‘stressed’ out? Or are stressed out with that ‘thought’? before answering this to ourselves, let’s actually have an idea about different myths and reality of ‘Stress’…
MYTH #2: Stress is something we can cope with or deal with directly.
FACT: Stress is not something you, I, or anyone else can cope with directly. Contrary to popular belief, stress is not some "thing" that exists or afflicts us like a disease.
"Stress" is merely a word that we use to stand for hundreds of specific problems and conflicts we experience from time to time.
Some of these problems exist outside our bodies, such as relationship conflicts, work-related pressures, and other external obligations or demands. Others occur inside our bodies, such as feeling tense, angry, worried, or depressed.
Thus, whenever we say we are "suffering from stress," what we really mean is WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS OR CONFLICTS THAT ARE PAINFUL OR TROUBLING TO US.
This means we have all been trained to think about stress incorrectly. Instead of asking "what can I do to cope with my stress?" you should be asking yourself "what specific problems or conflicts are troubling me, and how can I deal with each of these problems effectively?" The importance of this change will be discussed in a moment.
MYTH #3: Some degree of stress is good or healthy for us.
FACT: There is no such thing as "good" or "healthy" stress. Also, there is no truth to the rumor that some degree of stress is necessary for us to be happy, successful, or maximally productive in our jobs.
These myths arise from failing to appreciate that stress is just a word.
While many experiences in life can excite us, such as movies, plays, and athletic events, these experiences have nothing at all to do with stress (i.e. problems and conflicts that are painful or troubling to us). Confusion about this, however, causes many people to incorrectly assume that a certain amount of fear, anger, frustration, or other negative emotions is actually "good" or "healthy" for them.
THIS WIDESPREAD ASSUMPTION NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED! Instead of encouraging people to believe in this myth, we should be teaching our children that much of the pain and suffering people endure in the name of "good stress" is unnecessary. The truth is most of this stress could be eliminated without any adverse effects on our health, happiness, or productivity.
MYTH #4: The best way to deal with stress is to manage it--i.e. make it go away with physical exercise, meditation, biofeedback, or other relaxation techniques.
FACT: The most damaging belief we have today is that the best way to deal with our stress is to manage it. While stress management experts are quick to point out the positive benefits of exercise, meditation, and relaxation techniques, few will inform you of the negative side to these same coping strategies.
Most people have already discovered, however, that stress management techniques are often ineffective. They are very poor strategies for dealing with certain types of problems, such as the death of a loved one or the loss of your job. They are also very time-consuming, requiring discipline and will power that many people lack. In addition, their benefits are short-lasting, necessitating daily or in some case multiple usages each day.
But the biggest drawback to managing stress is that it only deals with the symptoms of our problems. It rarely helps us to clarify or deal with the underlying causes of our difficulties. This means that managing stress--even when we do it well--CAN CAUSE MANY OF OUR PROBLEMS TO PERSIST OR EVEN GET WORSE! Since we never correct the root causes of our problems, they will continue to occur, over and over again.
It is all about knowing the reality rather than living in a myth…
