Chronic stress is a common response to the demands of modern life. Guess what? I learned the hard way what being overly stressed out is and what it can do to your life!
On the positive side…it manifests as stress symptoms such as:
- nervousness,
- irritability,
- muscle tension,
And so on — it revs up every part of the body and mind to keep you alive and alert.
In the same way, the negative effects of chronic stress build slowly over time, and it starts to limit your ability to enjoy simple pleasures in life or find inner peace until it’s too late.
But don’t despair! You can integrate effective practices into your life to help you manage chronic stress more effectively.
Check out my strategies to help you get unstuck.
At first glance…Take time to self-reflect!
As noted earlier, I learned the hard way what being overly stressed out is and what it can do to your life!
Well, that is a long, drawn-out story which is another story together. However, I will give you a summary.
I worked at the FBI, and if you don’t know, the jobs are highly stressed daily. Particularly the programs dealing with informants.
That said, I was Program Manager for the S-Visa Program, a U.S. nonimmigrant visa that allows persons who witnesses or informants to assist law enforcement and provide information about a criminal organization in the U.S.
It is otherwise known as the “Snitch” visa. This visa is temporary and does not permit permanent living in the U.S.
Anyway, during my time with the FBI, I encountered many obstacles along the way;
The backlog of S-visa requests from the FBI and other Federal Law Enforcement Agencies at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Immigration Services was the biggest source of my stress and a huge obstacle that wasn’t easy to overcome.
Some I could get around; others were a constant source of stress that hijacked my coping ability and overwhelmed me.
I was suffering from chronic stress, which prompted the fall, causing a traumatic brain injury. (TBI)
So, what I am leading up to was my contact with a carpeted concrete floor in 2008. 😭
One day, I passed out, hitting the back of my head. 🗣
See…I was unaware of being stressed out until it was much too late. It’s now 2022…14 years later, and I’m disabled mentally.
What’s more, I’m not crazy mentally; my brain doesn’t always function properly!
So the first step in managing your stress is to learn to “unsee”👁 your stress.
When you’re feeling stressed,😤Focus on what you’re doing.
Keep tabs on your mental “forest.” When you notice that your mind has wandered far off into the bushes, gently but firmly pull your attention back to the task.
It’s hard to do when you’re stressed because you don’t want to admit that you feel overwhelmed or you don’t want to admit that you’re struggling.
🆗…I know because it once was me!
Therefore, If you can take a step back, you’ll be surprised at how much better the situation🔥 will look when you are not stressed.🤯
Equally important…exercise and daily mindfulness practices!
Moreover, I found a quick and easy way to quiet your mind and regain control over your attention?
- Take up a few low-key exercises — yoga, walking, breathing exercises, or something else that helps you quiet your mind.
- You need to take a break from the demands of work or school and acknowledge that you’re feeling stressed.
- Finding a few minutes to yourself every day to do some gentle, mind-quieting exercise is an easy, effective way to do this.
In the long run, it’s helpful if you’re stressed, over-tasked, and overwhelmed.
It may seem small, but it can be tremendously comforting and helpful to the stressed-out mind.
The next step …Don’t dwell on the past!
- The past is the past.
- It’s over.
- You can’t change it, can’t go back;
- All you can do is move forward.
But, at the same time, you might be thinking, how in the hell can you move forward when your past keeps invading your every thought?
How do you move away from demons that played a part in your descent into the dark places of your mind?
To begin with, you must become keenly aware of your mind path, your pattern of thinking backward, into the dark abyss of past mistakes and misfortunes, which only compound the situation…making you more stressed and anxious.
To put it more simply…stressed-out minds are more focused on the got darn negative. So the more time you spend dwelling on the past, the more you feel stressed and anxious.
Reach for a relaxed state of mind by focusing on the present moment. Think happy thoughts.
The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”
Simply put…
Stop thinking about the past and consider what you can do to move forward!
And be sure to…have a conversation with yourself!
The best way to deal with stress is by talking yourself down from the high horse with a sense of humor.
By the way, this will make you feel less stressed!
However, it’s not easy, but telling your brain that it needs a break will make you feel better in no time!
“Stress acts as an accelerator: it will push you either forward or backward, but you choose which direction.”
What Is Chronic Stress…Fight or Flight! What I experienced:⬇️
- Namely, stress is the body’s reaction to harmful real or perceived situations.
- A chemical reaction in your body allows you to act to prevent injury when you feel threatened.
- The stress response reaction: is known as “fight-or-flight.”
- During the stress response, your heart rate increases, breathing quickens, muscles tighten, and blood pressure rises.
- You are ready to act. It is how you protect yourself.
Now, some people are better able to handle stress than others. And, also not all stress is bad.
It comes down to…small doses of stress can help you accomplish tasks and prevent you from getting hurt.
Also, stress makes you slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the car in front of you. That’s a good thing.
Wrapping it up!
Chronic stress is almost inevitable if you’re a highly-pressured, high-performing individual in today’s modern world.
On the contrary, many people struggle with it, but it doesn’t have to be a barrier to your happiness and success.
It’s important to recognize that you’re feeling stressed, take a few moments to check-in and collect yourself, and then reach for a few low-key stress-reducing techniques.
These will help you regain control over your attention and get back to enjoying life.🌹
It took years to learn how to control the stress and not allow it to control me!
👀Thanks for reading👁