Experiencing stress in life, especially in one's professional life, is quite common. Stress can sometimes be advantageous, driving us to enhance ourselves personally and professionally. However, the continual presence of stress is counterproductive, triggering a fight-or-flight response in our body. Key hormones released during this response include adrenaline (epinephrine), noradrenaline (norepinephrine), and cortisol. These hormones collaborate to prepare your body to confront or escape from a threat. Adrenaline and noradrenaline raise heart rate, blood pressure, and energy levels, while cortisol increases glucose levels and suppresses non-essential functions to prepare your body for action.
In her book Atlas of the Heart, Brené Brown delves into the intricate landscape of human emotions, starting with a profound exploration of stress and overwhelm. Though commonly experienced, these emotions are often misunderstood and mismanaged. Brown provides valuable insights into their nature, causes, and ways to navigate through them.
The Nature of Stress
Although stress is unavoidable, it is not necessarily harmful. Brown clarifies that stress is a natural reaction to perceived challenges or threats, triggering our fight-or-flight response to deal with imminent dangers. While this can be advantageous in brief periods, persistent stress can negatively impact our physical and mental well-being. Prolonged stress becomes troublesome when our body stays in a perpetual state of heightened alertness. Identifying and dealing with the underlying reasons for stress is crucial for sustaining equilibrium and health.
Strategies for Managing Stress
Brown offers several strategies for managing stress effectively:
Mindfulness and Presence: Practicing mindfulness can help us stay present and reduce the tendency to ruminate over past or future stressors.
Physical Activity: Exercise is a powerful way to reduce stress hormones and boost mood.
Healthy Boundaries: Setting boundaries can prevent us from taking on more than we can handle, thereby reducing stress.
Key Insight: Proactive measures such as mindfulness, exercise, and boundaries can keep stress at manageable levels.
The Anatomy of Overwhelm
Brown describes overwhelm as a state of being completely overcome by intense emotion or stimuli. Unlike stress, which can sometimes be managed through strategic responses, overwhelm shuts down our ability to function effectively. It's as if our mental and emotional circuits are overloaded and unable to process additional input. Overwhelming is more than stress; it is a signal that we have exceeded our capacity to cope. Acknowledging this state is the first step toward regaining control.
Addressing Overwhelm
When it comes to overwhelm, Brown emphasizes the need for self-compassion and breaks:
Pause and Reset: Taking a break to breathe, meditate, or rest can help reset our overwhelmed state.
Seek Support: Reaching out to trusted friends or a therapist can provide the emotional support needed to navigate through overwhelming times.
Simplify and Prioritize: Simplifying tasks and focusing on priorities can help reduce the sense of being overloaded.
Key Insight: Overwhelm requires us to stop, reset, and seek support rather than trying to push through it.
Differentiating Stress and Overwhelm
Brown emphasizes the significance of distinguishing between stress and overwhelm. Although they are connected, they call for distinct management strategies. Stress can be eased through problem-solving and time management, whereas overwhelm necessitates a deeper reset of our mental and emotional well-being. Understanding the distinction between these two experiences can help us apply the appropriate strategies for relief. Treating overwhelm with stress management techniques alone is insufficient.
Embracing Vulnerability
As Brown examines stress and overwhelm, she also explores the broader theme of vulnerability. She advocates for openly confronting our struggles with stress and overwhelm rather than concealing them. By sharing our stories, we can connect with others going through similar challenges and build collective resilience. Embracing vulnerability and conversing about our experiences with trusted individuals can provide comfort and foster deeper connections.
Conclusion
Brené Brown delves deeply into stress and overwhelm in her book "Atlas of the Heart," underlining the significance of differentiating between the two and employing personalized strategies to tackle them effectively. By recognizing the distinct signs of each and applying relevant approaches, we can more effectively manage these emotions. Recognizing our vulnerability and seeking help when necessary is crucial. Although stress and overwhelm are typical experiences, having the right support allows us to maintain our resilience and well-being.
If you are feeling stressed about an upcoming task, it can likely be handled through effective management and addressing the issue. However, if you are feeling overwhelmed by toxic behaviour from your boss, it may be beneficial to consider taking a break, resetting and recalibrating your future steps. Making hasty decisions in this situation is the last thing you should do, as you may regret them later on.
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