Stress Cycle
Hello everyone welcome to our first day of Stress Awareness Week, a collaboration between multiple awesome sub-communities! You can find the masterpost here.
An interesting way to look at stress is through a stress cycle. Stress triggers a multitude of events in ourselves. All those events can repeat in a cycle with no break and can cause us to have no relief from our stress. Lets examine what is part of a stress cycle and how we can break it.
Although there are many types of stress cycles, let's use the one above for today. The causality, or the relationship of the cause and effect is shown at the top. First, a certain event can happen that can be the beginning of the stress. For example, lets say we lose a job. Instantly, that can cause a lot of stress. The perspective of how we look at the event can contribute to our stress. We would all, most likely, look at losing a job as a terrible thing.
Then, another event can happen that can make our stress even worse. Let's say that a family member becomes ill. That of course would add to our stress. Next, comes the response. How do we respond to this stress? In this example, a response we could have to losing a job and having a family member fall ill is sleeping less, as we would try to find another job and would worry about the family member.
Then, what emotion do we experience because of all this stress? An example in this situation could be irritability and anxiousness. Next, what is the negative consequence of all this stress? A consequence we could have as a result of all our stress is painful headaches.
Below, you can see many examples of physical and mental responses, emotions, and behavioral consequences of stress. By looking at the first image, you can see that the last step of this cycle is stress continued. As shown in this cycle, once a causality occurs, a chain of reaction follows that can increase the stress and it can repeat. However, if you look to the side, you can see a way to break this cycle, through a positive release! This does not have to be a solution to an event or problem, it can just be something that helps you better cope with stress. For example, we could break our current stress cycle by journaling as a way to convey our emotions.
-Some Questions To Answer
-What does a stress cycle look like for you? (Remember that it can look different for everyone, and doesnt have to be like the one shown above!)
-How can you break this stress cycle?
-Can you think of a way we can create a positive stress cycle?
Thank you all for joining in one of our activities for Stress Awareness Week! We hope that you have found this post interesting! Please be sure to check out the other great posts related to the event here!
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@hopedreamlove @Tazzie
What does a stress cycle look like for you? (Remember that it can look different for everyone, and doesnt have to be like the one shown above!)
I have been working on alleviating stress within me and around me. Stress weakens our immune systems and leads to many diseases amongst other things.
How can you break this stress cycle?
We can break the stress cycle by actively continously working on ways to reduce stress within our lives.
Can you think of a way we can create a positive stress cycle?
We can create a postive stress cycle by learning how to manage our stress.
@hopedreamlove
-What does a stress cycle look like for you? (Remember that it can look different for everyone, and doesnt have to be like the one shown above!) : My stress cycle is complicated. My body doesn't change but my mind, behaviour and emotions are greatly affected. I get anxious, restless. I can't concentrate well and I get angry, sad and anxious.
-How can you break this stress cycle?: I have no idea.
-Can you think of a way we can create a positive stress cycle?: Nope.
@hopedreamlove
-What does a stress cycle look like for you? (Remember that it can look different for everyone, and doesnt have to be like the one shown above!)
It often starts with a trigger. I then become irritable. Poor thought processes. If not controlled I then have negative thoughts flooding my mind or often victimize myself. Finally I break down and good thing spring back after some time.
-How can you break this stress cycle?
Talking to my friend who will be 100% open with me. Sometimes we as humans find a way to cope with the stress by victimizing ourselves and this often becomes dangerous to our well-being. If probably I am overreacting she will let me know. You also have to be true with yourself and willing to be told the truth. So with the new awareness I then move forward.
-Can you think of a way we can create a positive stress cycle?
Yes. Immediately after you realize you are getting stressed or get triggere, you can use ths S.T.O.P method which works.
S - Stop and hit the pause button
T - Take a few deep breaths
O - Observe your body, mind and emotions
P - Proceed with new awareness
@hopedreamlove
This post was spectacularly written, hope!
Viewing stress as a cycle distinctly intertwines the causes and the behaviour we exhibit in response to them, allowing us to view them together and address specific aspects of both, to see what change they may bring in our lives!
-What does a stress cycle look like for you?
I relate the most with @TheAtticusFinch. My cycle too involves-constantly validating and invalidating my feelings until I reach some form of an equilibrium, at which point everything breaks down and we start over
. It is exhausting, but we do kind of, learn to live with it!
Decisions I take whilst in a particular mood, do not hold up to the scrutiny when I am in another mood. These mood swings aren't necessarily drastic, there's just a lot of "changing my mind"-and in a way, that makes it all the more difficult for me to ever truly be fine with a decision I have taken!
In conclusion, to me more than the cause being a source of stress-it is my response to it, which I cannot every fully accept and that contributes to most stress I face.
-How can you break this stress cycle?
I found that the reasons for my constant change in decision was that I would suddenly attribute a lot of importance to one reason.I soon stopped looking for the "best response" and learnt to accept the good ones. I also grew firmer in responses that put myself first. In a way, I learnt to have a hierarchy in the importance I awarded to various reasons that create a response.
Don't get me wrong, I still do feel stressed, when I think of certain responses/decisions I have taken in the past, but when I do, I take a day off from everything virtual and just be bored, so as to evaluate them with a clear mind.
-Can you think of a way we can create a positive stress cycle?
A positive stress cycle that has for long been on my mind, is when we feel dissatisfied with where we are. In a way, I feel that it is that reason why we have so many Community Mentors, Forum Supporters, Team Members, Mods, Room Supporters, Peer and Chat Supporters, and every other marvelous person out here who has taken up so many other roles on this website!
Although this may not be the primary reason, there's some kind of stress we face when we see those around us taking up more roles, and that in a way, encourages us to get out there.
(P.S: Although at times, our life is demanding, and we need to take a decision considering all that surrounds us)
@bouncySalamander26
I initially understood "a positive stress cycle"-to mean a cycle of positive stress, but after reading others' responses, I feel that the question is directed towards exploring how to make the stress cycle healthier and more positive. In that sense, I believe that creating a progress checklist for how we want to proceed, and even writing a letter to ourselves (childish though it may sound), often keeps us going and lets us know we've made some progress, while also allowing us to address the cause of the stress. Regular breaks and reducing the number of responsibilities we take may help too!
-What does a stress cycle look like for you?
My stress cycle is complicated. Even for me, I get headaches, feeling tense, and tired for the body. Feel like i dont have the motivation to do it even if i have to, the mind and emotion part involves most of them, i would even thinking up something crazy even if its not related to the topics on stressing on and more irritable on the smallest thing (not good when in group works lol). Behavior wise, i feel more sleepless and sleepy at the same time which is weird, snacking, and ive been an accident prone all my life so no change there.
-How can you break this stress cycle?
I have no idea. I usually self motivate with talking to myself mostly on finishing it then only i can break down. Or i would distract myself but i dont think this really works
-Can you think of a way we can create a positive stress cycle?
First most important step: LEARN TO MANAGE STRESS! then its up to how to continue manage it
- Tea ☕ || Life is not a game of luck. If you wanna win, work hard. – Sora, NGNL
@hopedreamlove
-What does a stress cycle look like for you? (Remember that it can look different for everyone, and doesnt have to be like the one shown above!)
-How can you break this stress cycle?
-Can you think of a way we can create a positive stress cycle?
By knowing it does not overpower you. I over powedr what is right for me and strive for it
-What does a stress cycle look like for you?
I get stressed and not know it for awhile then I am overwhelmed. Once I know it I write down what's wrong and possible triggers. Work on my self care and make sure to take time for myself.
-How can you break this stress cycle?
Learn about yourself and what sets you off. Keep up a healthy self care routine. Learn to reach out to others and others that are going through the same as you.
-Can you think of a way we can create a positive stress cycle?
Don't let yourself get to a breaking point. Learn healthy coping mechanisms. Lessen the negative self talk. You can you it to your advantage, It can help your drive and passion if you use it correctly.
-What does a stress cycle look like for you?
When I get stressed, I become highly critical, irritable and quick to make decision. I'll try to finish whatever I need to do in that moment, so I can destress quickly. But the process isn't pretty because I can't think clearly in that moment. And this often lead to more stress in the future.
-How can you break this stress cycle?
Frst, I have to be aware that I'm stressed and the cause of my stress. From there, it's easier to find the solution to the problem.
-Can you think of a way we can create a positive stress cycle?
I think it might be helpful to accept the feelings rather than fight it. I often think stress is just a signal. If I'm stressed about work, maybe I just need to take a break or something. But maybe it's harder to do for a more complex problem..
@hopedreamlove
What does a stress cycle look like for you? (Remember that it can look different for everyone, and doesnt have to be like the one shown above!)
It always starts with me putting too much pressure onto myself to feel good paradoxally, and treating everything like my life depends on it. Then i begin to be restless, i move around endlessly and can not focus on simple things, i also lose track of time. I feel trapped and often feel strong need to escape, run, often dissociate.
How can you break this stress cycle?
Slowly bring myslef back to reality, remind myself that i only can not must do things. Read a book, bake,engage with sorroundings.
Can you think of a way we can create a positive stress cycle?
Slowly remid myslef that im not slave of my work, and i have a right to be tired. Also that pressure is my enemy not friend. Practice affirmations, stretch muscles once a day, let myslef be lazy, read a book. Engaging in self care and compassion.
thats all i think
Stress cycle for me:
Fatigue, muscle tension, irritability, at times react out of emotions
How I break this cycle:
I pray, breathe, and smile. I know when I go to God first and seek His direction in my life, everything works out eventually. I shift my focus on God and make Him the center of my life.
Create a positive stress cycle:
In all honesty and personal experience, when I start to feel stress bubbling up inside of me, I quickly shift my entire mentality on to God, everything falls in place. When you have this beautiful relationship with Him, He takes care of you and fights your battles for you. All you have to do is trust, believe, and have faith in Him. He will never fail you.