The Stress Factor
- Debbie Anderson
- Sep 10, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 14
Life can be challenging, and despite our best efforts to manage stress, it often remains a struggle. Stressors are always there, they will always be there. Through this blog, I aim to share my experiences with stress and connect with others facing similar stress issues. Each week, I’ll break down my journey into relatable insights and ideas, offering encouragement and guidance in hope of helping others navigate stress more effectively.
Stress Management: The Stress Factor
"The goal of stress management is to understand stress, it's effects, and effective management strategies for a happier, higher quality of life."
Stress has been a big factor in my life since I was young. Throughout my life, I’ve explored various ways to manage stress. Growing up in church, It began with prayer and Bible verses as a child, followed by exercise as a teenager. In my twenties, I discovered Yoga and deep breathing, which was just starting to gain popularity in the US. Determined and hopeful, I climbed several flights of stairs for a Hot Yoga session. Afterward, feeling shaky and exhausted, I vowed never to repeat the experience!
However, the next morning held an unexpected surprise: I felt better than I had in a long time. Euphoria filled my mind, and serotonin flowed through my body. I felt invincible, ready to conquer the world and Yoga and deep breathing played a significant role in that transformation. Everywhere I went, I immersed myself in discussions about Yoga, practiced its poses, and breathed its calming essence. In my 30’s, I seamlessly blended Yoga with my Christian spirituality, relying on the stress-relief meditation to be scripture and prayer.
Regularly practicing this fusion, I incorporated it into my classes. Yoga worked its magic, bringing balance, flexibility, and a sense of peace to my body. Paradoxically, despite having this powerful stress-relief toolbox, I still grappled with an overwhelming amount of trauma and stress during the same periods of my life. Often, I found myself metaphorically trapped in a deep, dark hole, desperately clawing my way toward the light of peace because it seemed as if there was always one thing after another preventing peace. The thing is, I’ve always been an anxious person anyway—jumpy, nervous, and struggling to relax around others. From a young age, I’ve experienced numerous traumas, leading to the development of various nervous habits including being hyper-aware that everything and anything could fall apart, be torn apart or disappear at any moment and it has taken a toll on my body, mind and soul. I have always been afraid of being "too comfortable" because when I am comfortable, chaos and trauma usually ensues. Managing stress was not really taught and was certainly a challenge growing up. Fear drove many of my actions and prevented me from the peace I so wanted.
Being in church, listening to positive messages and music, praying and reading God's words was and still is very comforting for me. With God, I don't feel afraid, I feel empowered and always go to Him first.
What is Stress?
Stress is a physical and emotional reaction to real and perceived traumas, demands and/or pressures.
There are 2 types of stress: Acute & Chronic
Acute stress occurs over a short period and is usually related to specific situations.
Chronic stress lasts over a long period and can affect your overall health.
As my adult life became busier and our family grew, the added stress took a toll on my body. I would ignore my body’s signals that I should care for myself as well and kept pushing through, which only increased the stress on my body. I would try to look, act and/or speak normal, tell everyone that, "I'm ok." and try to move on while inside I was screaming "What's wrong with me?!" feeling worse about myself daily.
“Trusting your body’s signals is essential. Sometimes, peace lies in the little things—the quiet breaths, the gentle rhythms. Keep listening; you’re on the right path.”
Over the past few years, I've experienced various unexplained symptoms, including vertigo, high cholesterol, and issues related to hormones and digestion. Despite numerous tests and consultations with doctors and specialists, I continued to endure pain, fatigue, and additional digestive problems.
It wasn't until I reached out to a fellow coach that I recognized the extent of stress I was carrying. Internally and externally, I was contending with numerous stress factors and their impacts on my health. The difference this time was that my fellow coach genuinely listened, asked open-ended questions to better understand my situation, and empathized with me. We worked together (just an hour a week) to develop small daily actions I could take to manage my stress and enhance my overall health and wellness. I started with simple and manageable steps, utilizing my strengths and talents, which made it easier to incorporate into my daily routine. My coach encouraged me consistently, and we both learned a great deal from the experience. Most importantly, I am still learning to become more aware of myself and what my body and mind need. In a fast-paced world, we can lose ourselves especially while caring for others, and increasing self-awareness is crucial for taking the first step toward our goals.
I am still working on myself and dedicate more time to self-care, especially during challenging times. Life often throws unexpected challenges, especially when I start to feel comfortable, but I'm learning that self-awareness involves "rolling with the resistance" of life rather than fighting it. This approach prevents us from getting entangled while maintaining a positive regard for others' ideas and opinions as well.
This experience underscores the importance of listening to our bodies and addressing persistent issues like low energy, weight concerns, brain fog, mental health challenges, poor nutrition, hair loss, low motivation, allergies, and more. You might have been told, “everything looks normal,” but deep down, you know it’s not.
Stress Management Strategy: Small Actions
Identify Causes - Recognize the sources of stress and try to understand the emotions associated with them.
Acceptance - Accept that stress is a part of life and focus on how to manage it.
Action Ideas
Deep Breathing & Meditation
Adequate Sleep
Regular Exercise
Balanced Diet
Reach Out to friends, family, or professionals
Join a Community
I'm currently taking gradual steps toward reducing stress, which has led to painless digestion most days, and I truly believe it will continue. The simplicity of my steps lie in the process, but the real challenge is maintaining consistency and finding ways to prevent stress from overwhelming my body again. I am up for the challenge, especially in exchange for the peace, energy, and happiness I've already gained by taking these simple daily actions. Time will tell, and so will I!
As I mentioned earlier, my initial focus was on my strengths. By working on what Precision Nutrition refers to as our "Superpowers," I engage in self-love, which is crucial for me since I tend to be much more critical of myself than of others.
I also make it a priority to eat slowly and mindfully. As a busy wife, mom, and community helper, I was often eating on the go or not at all. Mindful eating aids my digestion by giving it time to properly process food and recognize important signals, like feeling full or food triggers. It allows me time for my well-being. With the spring/summer season, I also used fresh, aromatic herbs, fruits, and vegetables to reconnect my senses with my food, helping me truly savor each bite.
Another practice I follow is called “noticing and naming.” This involves identifying what I am stressing about (noticing) and labeling (naming) stress when it arises. Once I determine what I am stressing over, I acknowledge it for what it is and let it go, offering it up to God. This approach has been beneficial for me so far, as it helps me manage the scattered thoughts that arise that tend to lead me down that metaphoric hole when I’m under stress.
These actions are truly beneficial because they are tailored to fit my lifestyle, utilizing the strengths I already have. They can evolve and adapt to what works best for me, while also challenging me to put in more effort and prioritize my health and wellness.
Do you find yourself facing similar challenges or relating to my journey? Discover how we can support you in reaching your goal and uncovering your superpowers and actions at www.Custom4Me2.com
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