Stress, in its most general meaning, refers to the challenging and disturbing tensions that arise against the events and situations we experience. It should be noted that stress is a very natural state that everyone experiences and is present in all people.
Stress, when well managed, increases productivity and efficiency. Excessive stress, as well as excessively low stress levels, reduces performance.
Positive or negative life events, such as major life changes and certain environmental events, can cause stress.
Life changes and environmental events may include moving, starting or changing schools, moving to or leaving a new job, academic anxiety, graduation and future anxiety, economic difficulties, threats to or loss of health, loneliness, homesickness, separation from loved ones, death of a loved one, relationship problems, violence.
What you see as a source of stress and how much stress you experience also depends on your personality and your perspective on events. In fact, it is not only the experiences themselves that stress us, but also our expectations and interpretations of them. People perceive different events as stressful and react differently. It is the interaction between the experiences and the person that determines the stress that the person will experience. The best way to cope with stress is to recognize and control the things that cause stress in oneself.
Some symptoms of stress:
While the sources of stress vary from person to person, the symptoms of stress can be similar for many people. As the level of stress we experience increases, so do the symptoms. If you are experiencing many of these symptoms, you should consult a mental health professional immediately.
Emotional: Anxiety, tension, restlessness and inability to relax, fear, embarrassment, hopelessness, impatience, anger, sadness.
Intellectual: Self-criticism, difficulty focusing and making decisions, forgetfulness, thoughts about failure, intense negative thoughts.
Behavioral: Crying, irritability, clenching of teeth, impaired interpersonal relationships, impaired sexual functioning, self/harm, emotional eating, use of addictive substances.
Physical: Shortness of breath, feeling unable to breathe, muscle tension, aches and pains, sweaty hands, headaches, back or neck problems, frequent sickness, feeling tired, heart palpitations, tremors, digestive problems, sleeping problems, increased or decreased appetite.
In the long term, stress can cause headaches, high blood pressure, heart disease, gastrointestinal problems (such as ulcers, gastritis, colitis), skin problems (such as shingles, urticaria, acne), psychological problems (such as depression, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder).
What you can do to cope with stress:
First of all, it is important to try to recognize where your stress comes from, what bothers you, what emotions you experience and how you react to them.
Some dysfunctional ways of coping: Smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs, eating more or less than you usually eat, harming yourself/body, trying not to think about things that make you anxious or stressed, being out of the moment and spending a lot of time on social media
Some ways of coping that can be functional:
Listening to yourself and realizing what triggers you and trying to understand your feelings at that moment, recognizing what is in your control and what is not, trying to see the positives as well as the negatives, practicing regular self-care, getting support from people you trust and love, getting support from a professional when coping becomes difficult instead of staying in the difficult situation and beating yourself up.