How do you know you are stressed?

So, the other day, I was having a conversation with a friend about wellness. As we chatted, I mentioned that stress is known to cause up to 75% of chronic diseases.¹ She was beyond surprised. Then she asked me this question: how do I know if I’m stressed?

Because I thought it was a brilliant question, I did some digging and thinking. I discovered a few things that you may find useful to guard against and manage stress in your own life.

First, let’s describe stress. I define it as “the sense of your unpreparedness or inability to meet a demand that is placed on you by any given situation”. This feeling of not being in control is what weighs you down. Stress can proceed from four different areas of our lives—spiritual, mental, physical and relational—which are interdependent. And because we are unified beings, being stressed in one area is sure to have an effect on the other areas.

So what does stress in each of these areas look like and how can you deal with it?

Spiritual Stress
This manifests as a sense of inner emptiness, and not having a thorough understanding of your spiritual beliefs. It could also materialize when you’re still trying to figure out the meaning of your life or purpose, or if you’re indecisive about taking a stand either for God or this world.

You can manage spiritual stress by being reconciled to God, the author and source of your life, by finding your identity in Christ. He is the only way. This will enable you to cling to the hope of eternal joy with God that will motivate you to live fully for Him and enjoy the abundant life, which is free of fear and anxiety.

Mental Stress
This is evident when you are constantly filled with resentment, grief, fear, frustration, shame, guilt, anger, self-criticism, anxiety, depression, or perfectionism. These emotions are generated through unwelcome life circumstances such as loss of income, loss of loved ones, lack of survival resources, disease, or the fear of death.

You can manage your mental stress through your spiritual practices and by accessing professional care, which may help you control your emotions, maintain a work-life balance, and build a sense of personal self-worth, among others.

Physical stress
You can become physically stressed through illnesses, dietary issues, environmental exposure to toxins, fatigue due to biochemical imbalances, and trauma from intense physical labor.

Physical stress can be prevented or managed by making healthy choices in the areas of nutrition, hydration, movement, exercise, rest, sleep, and environment.

Relational stress
This occurs when you remain in toxic relationships that are filled with envy, quarrels, gossip, arguments, slander, and jealousy. It can also happen when you lack social support or are isolated from loved ones.

You can manage relational stress by choosing to love your neighbor as you love yourself, through your display of patience, hospitality, generosity, forgiveness, gentleness, and courage. This behavior fosters lasting and satisfying relationships.

It is important to deal with stress at its source, rather than its ripple effect, otherwise you’ll find no relief. For instance, having relational issues can cause mental stress that results in anxiety. If you focus on dealing with anxiety and not the relational issues, the anxiety is bound to go nowhere. Furthermore, if you find it hard to deal with your relational issues, you might want to check if it is as a result of spiritual stress—i.e., not fully understanding and knowing how to walk in the ways of love that God has prescribed.

According to a Harvard Health article, chronic stress can weaken your immune system making you more vulnerable to colds and other common infections. In addition, it can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, and contribute to asthma, cancer, digestive issues, and other health problems.²

So my dears, in which of these areas do you think you’re currently experiencing stress?

I hope this little write-up has given you a better idea of what stress is and how you can manage it. Don’t take stress lightly. Learn to spot it, trace it to its root cause and deal with it. We have the same power that raised Christ from the dead to help us live stress-free lives. Let’s leverage it and live in our best possible health.

Have a stress-less week ahead!

References

1. Stress Statistics
2. Harvard Health

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