The term “stress” was first used by Hans Selye in 1926, the term means tension or a state of tension. Stress reactions are by nature defensive and adaptive reactions. They help to adapt with the changing conditions of the external environment.
Any event where you feel a threat to your dignity or belief system may become stress-inducing, if this situation has lasted long enough and repeats itself, then stress can develop.
Phases of forming stress are:
- Alarm phase, wherein you feel agitated and need to decide whether to combat the stressor, flee or to give up fighting. Fighting is a negative cycle that brings with itself anger, aggression, attack and destruction. Fleeing is a regressive state that is incited by fear, uncertainty, which may be followed by denial, fantasizing and escaping by getting sick, addicted or passive.
- Resistance phase, wherein you feel resistant to the stressor.
- Exhaustion phase, wherein the stressor has had an influence for an extended period of time.
It is not possible to completely avoid stress and there is no need for doing so, but stress should remain a temporary reaction in case of danger or a challenge. You may not let stress become an every-day companion or factor that shapes your life.
Stress does not solve by not dealing with problems, by denying problems or by fleeing from problems. It is not a solution to solve the situation with emotions, by blaming yourself or others.
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