Stress feels uncomfortable, but not every uncomfortable feeling is stress-- and being confused about what you feel is stressful in itself. Let's begin by gaining some clarity in understanding our own emotions.
People use the word "stress" interchangeably with other terms such as worry, anxiety, and fear, but stress is, at its heart, our conviction that we won't be able to cope with the challenges we're facing.
It's always easier to deal with difficult emotions if we understand them better. Stress can provoke fear, anxiety, and worry but each represents a different emotional reaction. By appreciating the differences and the relationships between these emotions, we can put our problems in perspective.
Is worry the same as stress?
Put simply, worry is an attempt to avoid unpleasant consequences by adopting repetitive thought patterns-- for example, "What if" questions such as "What if I get sick? What if I lose my job?"-- which we describe with words such as "fretting" and "brooding." We don't need or want those thoughts to pop into our minds over and over, but it can be hard to stop them.
It might feel like worrying or "thinking about" our problems is helpful, but that is not the same as "thinking through" our problems-- in other words, confronting a situation and trying to address it. By actively problem-solving, we gain a greater sense of control.
Fear and anxiety
Where worry is a mental habit, fear is an instinctive reaction-- usually in the face of a perceived threat. Fear is a survival trait, and there are good evolutionary reasons why we're capable of feeling it. Our reactions to fear are grouped into four categories:
Escape (flight) or avoidance (preflight)-- We run away from a threat if we can.
Aggressive Defense (the "fight" part of "fight or flight")-- If we can't escape or we don't stand a good chance of victory, we may attack.
Freezing/Immobility-- a valuable reaction if we're trying to hide, or if we don't want to antagonize someone unpredictable.
Submission/ appeasement-- when the threat comes from within our own "herd," the best option is sometimes to suppress our anger to avoid being rejected.
If fear is a normal reaction to a scary event, what is anxiety? When fear becomes excessive or unwarranted and starts to affect our quality of life and prevents us from doing what we need or want to do, it is best described as anxiety. The stress-management techniques learned at Beginning With You will give you more confidence and security, which will help reduce your anxiety.
Throughout your time and work with me, we'll focus on building your stress resilience through growing your understanding of how stress can impact your life. Recognizing that stress can provoke worry and heighten anxiety can be empowering. Facing our fears head-on makes them less threatening and helps us make us stronger and more resilient.
Ready to make some changes? Book your appointment by visiting: www.beginningwithyou.org
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