Stress
Stress is the feeling of having too many demands and expectations that exceed our ability to cope. It can arise from time pressure or from high expectations and self-criticism.
THE IDEA
What Is Stress?
Anger is one thing. Stress is another. Sometimes one is a consequence of the other, but not always. Some people become angry because of stress; others become stressed because of anger. When we speak about stress, we often mean the feeling of having too much to do and too little time to do it. There’s not enough time to do everything at work and then on top of that factor in the time needed to go to the gym, meet with friends, spend time with family, do various kinds of recreational activities, oh, and maybe sleep.
However, the stress that makes us truly suffer is often due to things apart from a lack of time. If you feel pressure and have high expectations about what you will do and how you are meant to be, you can become stressed, even if you aren’t really pressed for time.
Pressure, demands, and expectations create stress and can make you feel self-critical and powerless. You may find it difficult to sleep or may feel physical pain in your body. Simply put, the feeling of stress arises when we experience greater demands and expectations than we can cope with.
When to use it
Managing work deadlines and performance expectations
Handling high expectations from family, society, or oneself in personal life
Dealing with chronic illness or caregiving responsibilities that create ongoing demands
Preparing for a major exam or public presentation
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Workplace Stress
An employee is given multiple urgent projects with tight deadlines and feels constant pressure from their manager to perform perfectly. They start losing sleep and feeling self-critical, even though they are managing their time reasonably well.
Academic Pressure
A student believes they must achieve straight A's, participate in sports, volunteer, and maintain a social life. Despite having enough hours in the day, the high self-imposed expectations lead to chronic stress and physical symptoms like headaches.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Think of a recent situation where you felt stressed. What specific demands or expectations were exceeding your coping ability?
How can you either reduce the demands on yourself or increase your resources (time, support, skills) to better cope?
What role does self-criticism play in your experience of stress? How might you treat yourself with more compassion?
Often confused with
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Surrounded By Idiots (Thomas Erikson)