Managing Stress

Stress is a natural response, a reaction that can leave us feeling mentally and physically tense. Often, our stress patterns are deeply rooted in childhood experiences, where traumas and belief systems become ingrained in our nervous system. It’s important to recognize that stress isn’t inherently tied to the situation itself but rather to our perception and reaction to it. Experiencing stress is a normal part of life.

Three Responses to Stress

In nature, species-specific defense reactions (SSDRs) help animals survive by avoiding threats. Similarly, our nervous system reacts to stressors in three ways:

• Fight: This is the preferred, though often challenging, response—actively addressing and resolving the stressor.
• Flight: This is the instinct to escape the stressor, essentially running away from the threat.
• Freeze: This is the most paralyzing response, where one feels completely stuck, unable to act.

Stress, when managed properly, can actually enhance our mental and physical abilities by boosting our metabolism. However, too much stress can disrupt our equilibrium, leading to undesirable effects.

Adapting to Stress

Our goal is to condition our responses to adapt and maintain balance, even in stressful situations.

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There are two main strategies for managing stress, and in some cases, eliminating it entirely:

1. Increase Your Capacity for Stress: This involves building resilience by reducing the sensitivity of your reactions and increasing relaxation through repeated exposure to stressors.
2. Decrease Your Quantity of Stress: This focuses on letting go of stressors that cause tension and unhappiness, effectively reducing their impact on your well-being.

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