By Farita Khambatta RTTP, C.Hyp | Amazon Best-Selling Author | Speaker | Writer
Stress does not care about age, gender, race, money, or position. According to Mentalhealth.org.uk approximately 74% of the UK population experience overwhelming feelings of stress at some point in their lives. As a Rapid Transformational Therapy Practitioner, I see clients for all sorts of reasons and among the most common are stress and anxiety.
BUT DID YOU KNOW NOT ALL STRESS IS BAD?
Yes, you read right, not all stress is bad. In emergencies, stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline help us react swiftly to perceived threats. This “fight or flight” response serves us well in moments where we are required to react instantly to avoid danger. However, our modern brain struggles with prolonged, chronic stress such as a demanding job, low feelings of self-worth, troubled relationships, financial worries, and more. So actually it’s not stress that’s really the issue – it’s how long we experience it and how we handle ourselves in stressful situations that matters the most.
STRESS IS HOW YOU RESPOND TO YOUR OUTER WORLD
Stress is more than something that just happens to you —it’s a chemical reaction triggered by the thoughts in your mind and influenced by your emotions, or in other words the meaning you attach to those thoughts. Let’s look at an example – Bob and Dan are both stuck in a traffic jam and face the same situation but react very differently. Bob uses the time to relax and enjoy his favourite podcast. He arrives home a little late but has a pleasant evening with his family. Meanwhile, Dan’s experience is very different. He gets increasingly frustrated during his commute home, comes home angry and ends up making the evening unpleasant both for himself and his family as well.
The key takeaway? Despite the identical situation, their thoughts and emotions shaped entirely different experiences. This illustrates that the quality of your thoughts and emotions affects the quality of your life.
IS STRESS MAKING YOU SICK – THE CYCLE OF STRESS
If you wake up depressed and dreading your day, have constant feelings of anxiety or worry, struggle to get through your day, or feel overwhelmed regularly, these are signs that you’re probably highly stressed.
Stress is the product of your thoughts and emotions. Every time you have a thought, you have a corresponding emotion. That emotion is felt through the release of chemicals (hormones) that originate from your thoughts. So negative thoughts, trigger negative feelings and emotions that trigger the release of a flood of stress hormones into your bloodstream that affects every one of your 37+ trillion cells.
So in other words, if you don’t have a handle on your negative emotions (feelings of stress) and are continuously experiencing negative feelings (your emotions) you’re going to have a continuous release of toxic chemicals (hormones of stress) running through your bloodstream. Over time this can begin to impact the health of the cells of your body and begin to show up and manifest as inflammation and disease. The science is clear, unmanaged long-term stress can trigger disease.
I am a big believer because I have experienced it myself, that if you ignore your stress and don’t learn to find healthy ways of coping with it, it might take months or years but it will manifest in your body in a physical way so that it cannot be ignored.
HOW CAN WE THRIVE AND OVERCOME STRESS IN OUR MODERN WORLD?
Stress is a natural part of life, but the good news is, is that there is a lot you can do to support your emotional well-being and minimise stress.
DO NOT DWELL ON THINGS
When tough moments strike—a traffic jam, a rough day at the office, a disagreement with your partner—it’s natural to feel and express your emotions. However, dwelling on these events can keep you trapped in a cycle of stress. It’s crucial to acknowledge, maybe apologize or discuss, and then release these feelings. When you return home after a difficult day, it’s okay to share your experiences without being personally invested in them, kind of like you’re telling a story without being emotionally attached to it, enabling you to move forward.
AVOID THE NEWS
Watching TV is something most of us do to unwind. I often tell my clients that after a hard day, watching the news can be counterproductive. The news is usually filled with negativity – crime, murder, corruption, rate rises, war – none of that is going to make you feel better. On the other hand, watching your favourite comedy show and having a good laugh can do wonders for helping you relieve stress and feel more relaxed.
REWIRE YOUR BRAIN FOR HAPPINESS
Your brain can change as it adapts to new thoughts and experiences – it’s a process called neuroplasticity. This means that good/positive thoughts can be rewired into your mind so you shift from stress to resilience. Often there are underlying beliefs within us from our past that affect how we interact with the world around us in the present. Taking time to review your beliefs can be very empowering and you may benefit from seeking professional support to help you work through your feelings, triggers and behaviours.
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS DON’T WORK
Drinking, vaping, smoking and illicit substances are not effective ways to manage stress. At best, they are momentary distractions with the potential to do further damage to your health. If you are using substances to escape your stress, seek out professional help so you can get to the root cause of your stress and work to release it. You can also talk to your healthcare practitioner if adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha or rhodiola rosea, which are both popularly used for stress relief and relaxation are safe for you. Personally, I love to end my day with a cup of organic chamomile tea and savour the soothing benefits it provides.
MEDITATION IS A POWERFUL WAY TO RELEASE STRESS
Study after study shows that meditation reduces stress and improves your wellbeing. Meditation does not need to be a huge time commitment. Even 10-15 minutes a day can have great benefits. By starting your day with meditation, you learn to tune into your thoughts and your body as well as cultivate a greater awareness of how you are thinking and responding to your outer world. This awareness can help you make better choices that support your mental health. If you find meditating hard, a peaceful 20-minute walk in nature can also be very beneficial.
STAY OFF YOUR DEVICES
Being hyperconnected means your brain is constantly being stimulated which can also be considered a type of stress. Your brain needs time away from electronics and devices. Keeping your mobile phone on silent during mealtimes and making use of the “do not disturb” feature on your phone so your evenings are uninterrupted is a good start.
MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF
Finding time for yourself is vital. Feeling tired, resentful and overwhelmed by constantly tending to everyone else’s needs means you’re going to get burnt out and probably not do anything well. Prioritising some personal time isn’t selfish – it’s about ensuring your emotional well-being to handle responsibilities better. Carving out some me time could be enjoying a walk in the sunshine, listening to a soothing meditation, savouring a quiet cup of tea, or taking a short nap—whatever brings you some mental peace and tranquillity.
REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE A CHOICE
From our childhood, we’re guided on how to think and act, seeking acceptance from others as we navigate the world. This can lead us to believe that life simply happens to us and we have no control. Such beliefs can negatively impact the quality of your life and contribute to feelings of stress. It’s worth asking yourself if you’re living to meet others’ expectations rather than your own. Learning to say “no” and prioritising your emotional well-being might be an adjustment, but this is a fantastic and transformative step forward toward becoming a happier, healthier individual.
CONCLUSION – YOU ARE THE ARCHITECT OF YOUR WELLBEING
In our fast-paced world, stress is unavoidable but remember, not all stress is bad – it’s how we manage what we’re experiencing that truly matters. By understanding that stress is a response to your thoughts and emotions, you have the power to choose how you navigate life. There are many practical and proven ways to relieve stress however, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress additional support can be helpful.
Your thoughts are the root of your emotions and your emotions affect how you perceive your life. If you are feeling that stress may be an issue for you maybe it’s time to ask yourself – what kind of thoughts do I have about myself and my life? What steps do I need to take, or what support do I need, to create a life that radiates peace, happiness and fulfillment?
Website: www.qstherapies.com
About Farita: Farita is a Rapid Transformational Therapy Practitioner, founder of Quantum Shift Therapies, Speaker, businesswoman, Co-author of Amazon Best Seller “Victim to Victory”, and contributor to several international publications. After battling with chronic autoimmune disease for over 20+ years and reclaiming her health and well-being, Farita is dedicated to empowering others with proven ways to transform and thrive.
