STRESS AND ANXIETY:

 

The difference between stress and anxiety (source: https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/anxiety-difference, 24/March/2024):

 

Stress and anxiety are both emotional responses, and the line between them is very thin.

Stress is usually triggered by an external trigger, which can be short-term (e.g. a short deadline for a project) or long-term (e.g. long-term unemployment). People under stress experience mental and physical symptoms such as irritability, anger, fatigue, muscle pain, digestive problems, sleep problems.

Anxiety is associated with persistent and excessive worries that do not disappear even after the cause (= stressor) is gone. Anxiety leads to almost the same symptoms as stress, i.e. to problems with sleep, concentration, fatigue, muscle tension, irritability.

 

Stress (source: https://blog.myneurogym.com/reduce-your-stress/, 24/March/2024:

 

Today, stress is associated with major health problems, including heart disease.

Stress often has a stimulating effect - but only when it is within the limits that our body (including the brain and nervous system) considers acceptable and beneficial. Our brain and nervous system find it very difficult to handle especially long-term stress - too much stress destroys us energetically and if we can't handle it within our own acceptable limits, we can get very sick. Burnout damages us both physically and mentally. Our work productivity drops dramatically, our immune system begins to weaken, our healthy sleep pattern changes. We become susceptible to infections of various viruses and bacteria, to depressive disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, heart disease,...

 

You can try to manage stress with a simple "AIA!" ("Adult Time Out"):

1. Mark the time in your calendar 3 times a day for a "time break".

2. When it's time to time out, you take 3 minutes of free time, close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Repeat the exercise 6 times.

3. You will be amazed as you can feel your stress disappearing.

At the beginning, take the time to time out 3x, later you can do it several times - e.g. 6x in the morning and 3x in the afternoon.

 

In general, stress can be managed (source https://www.calmclinic.com/stress-anxiety 24/mar/2024):

• we perform breathing exercises (as stated in the previous paragraph),
• we focus on the present (with the help of appropriate meditative techniques adapted to our personality),
• we find time for regular breaks during work (and not only for a longer annual vacation, which is also very important),
• we find a creative leisure activity (hobby) that fulfills us mentally and makes us happy,
• we ask for help when we need it,
• we drink enough water,
• we are physically active (according to the needs and capabilities of our body),
• we get enough sleep.

Let's listen to our body - let's stop activities that cause us unpleasant feelings, physical or mental pain, stress. We are only human beings, and as such we need to embrace the whole rainbow of life, not just one color…