Burnout

01Stress isn't just in your head, it's physical too. To deal with it, you need to do something physical like exercise or even a good cry

Let's talk about stress. But first, let's clear up a common misunderstanding. Stress and stressors are not the same thing. Stressors are the things that kick-start the stress response in your body. They're the things you see, hear, smell, taste, touch, or even just think about that your body interprets as a potential threat. These can be external things like societal pressures, deadlines, family drama, money worries, work stress, or experiences of discrimination. They can also be internal things like memories, self-image, self-criticism, or worries about the future. Stress, on the other hand, is what happens inside your body when it thinks it's under threat. It's a physical and neurological reaction that's been with us since our caveman days, helping our ancestors survive dangerous situations like being chased by a saber-toothed tiger. Let's paint a picture. You're a caveman and you see a tiger charging at you. Your brain immediately triggers a stress response, which is a flurry of neurological and hormonal activity that leads to physical changes designed to help you survive. For us vertebrates, our stress-response is primarily designed to power up our muscles to work intensely - in this case, to leg it away from the tiger. So, you run. And then what? There are two possible outcomes. Either you survive, or you shout for help and the tribe comes to your aid, killing the tiger. The tribe then shares a communal feast, and the inedible parts of the tiger are buried. This marks the end of the stress response cycle. But here's the thing. Just because the stressor (the tiger) has been dealt with, it doesn't mean that the stress itself has been eliminated. Let's say you managed to spear the tiger as it was charging towards you. Even though the threat is gone, your body is still in the middle of the stress response. Simply telling yourself to chill out won't help. You need to signal to your body that you are safe; otherwise, your hormones and neurochemicals will not return to a relaxed state. So why do we sometimes get stuck in this state of stress? There are a few reasons why the stress response cycle might not complete: 1. Chronic stressors: Sometimes, your brain triggers a fight or flight stress response, but acting on it doesn't change the situation. This can lead to chronic stress. 2. Social appropriateness: Sometimes, the stress response is something you can't do because it's not socially acceptable. 3. Safety concerns: In situations like street harassment, it might be hard to find a solution that deals with both the situation and the stress it causes. Walking away might be the easiest solution, but it doesn't deal with the stress itself. To finish the stress response cycle efficiently, you need to do things that signal to your body that you are safe. This could be running, swimming, or even singing and dancing to your favorite song. The key is to do something that moves your body and allows you to breathe deeply. This will help your body return to a relaxed state, effectively completing the stress response cycle.