Stress and Stressors - what’s the difference
Stress and Stressors what's the difference?
There's a real distinction that I believe needs to be made, it needs to be made so we can stop demonizing stress and seeing it for what it really is, a whole bunch of body responses that we need!
Also understanding the benefits of good stress so we can be REALLY clear on what it looks like when it goes bad.
Do you know the difference Beck?
The definition of a stressor is: something that causes a state of strain or tension.
It really can be anything?!?!
A person, place, or a situation that's causing you stress. When you consider the situation I spoke to in my last newsletter regarding our ancestors and the stressors that they were exposed to, their lives were also so much simpler, more dangerous for sure, but not with the number AND range of stressors that we are exposed to today.
Is this the reason many of us are tipping into the unmanaged and chronic end of the scale when it comes to our stress response? Do our stressors have a really defined finish, end or completion? What's the trigger that tells our body, its okay, we're good, you can relax now. Turn off that switch.
So if a stressor looks different for different people and it can be anything that causes strain or tension what does that look like if the stressor is a workplace - for whatever the reason - you have to go there everyday of your working week.
Your bodies response is the same, that heightened awareness that is needed to support you to deal with the stressor. But what turns the switch off if you have to go back there tomorrow and the next day...... do you see where I'm going?
If the stressor is not resolved or dealt with at what point does your body say, I'm cool! We are done! Time to stop! Thank you my amazing body you can turn off all those responses and rest, recharge, carry on with normal things.
So if the stressor is not a workplace, it's your workload or a colleague who you feel bullied by, it's a relationship, your finances, your employment status, lack of sleep, a young family or maybe it's a health issue.
What if its not just one thing, but multiple all layered in there together. Are we then tipping into the unmanaged and chronic end of the scale when it comes to our stress response. Or do we have some really slick strategies in place that help us to regulate our response, control it, turn it off!
Stress + Rest = Growth
Stress + Stress = Distress
We can manage how we respond to stress, we can re-wire our brain to react differently so stressors that cannot be resolved or sorted become manageable. Is this something that would be helpful for you?
Why not book a mini stress consult with me? 30 minutes to help you gain a better understanding of your specific stressors and your stress response. This session also includes an e-book on Stress Recognition & Strategies!