We find stress all around us. At home, at work – stress follows us wherever we look. Sometimes the stress is just too much and we want to get rid of it. But how do you manage the stress and the causes of stress? Stress management is a constant challenge and not easy to manage. We have found the three causes of stress and show ways to ban stress from our lives once and for all.
What are causes of stress and where do they come from?
Stress is our reaction to situations over which we seem to have no control. These situations usually surprise us. We do not have enough time to stay calm.
A typical reaction to stress is panic or fear.
We fall into actionism without having a real plan to cope with the stress. If we also have a rather mediocre self-confidence, the effect increases.
If we are taken by surprise by stress, our primeval instincts from caveman times come into play. Escape, attack or freeze. All 3 reactions lead to stress.
Related: Stress Symptoms – The 33 Signs of Stress
The causes of stress can be broken down to exactly three factors.
Cause of stress #1 – Interpretation instead of facts
Interpretation means that we do not judge a situation according to the available facts, but according to our interpretation. This is related to our mindset, which is the reason why we think, feel and act the way we do.
In most cases, the situation that triggers the stress can be controlled by looking objectively at it. However, since we feel overwhelmed, we fall back to interpreting our world view into this situation.
But if we manage to take a moment and look at the situation soberly, the view becomes much easier. Thus we create the possibility to re-evaluate the stress from scratch and in the best case to cope with it.
If the stress comes, it helps to pause, to think briefly about the situation and to find an objective solution. This is the first step in coping with stress.
Cause of stress #2 – Stubbornness
The second typical cause of stress is being stubborn. We insist so hard on our point of view that we do not allow other opinions, thus causing conflict with others. It is difficult for us to understand the other point of view and we have problems with our self-control.
We are so convinced of one thing that other points of view seem completely absurd to us, even if they may be correct.
If we manage not to insist too stubbornly on our convictions, this will help in coping with stress. The world is not only black and white, but has many nuances in between. The challenge is to get involved in these nuances and to make compromises. At these moments we should ask ourselves: “What is behind this point of view? “Can I perhaps learn something from this point of view?
Cause of stress #3 – Over-Definition
The third typical stress factor is the over-definition. This factor means that we identify too strongly with something and become emotionally dependent on it.
Typical examples are the football club, the job or an object (like the car). If something happens to the club, job or object we love so much, it hits us very hard. It’s as if the situation hits us directly.
We must learn to distance ourselves from these things and rely on our morals and principles rather than on external factors.
Stress management: Understanding causes and solving stress
If we manage to look at situations soberly and not to interpret too much into them, it is easier for us to cope with stress.
If we can then still go through life in a relaxed way, without strong stubborness in our point of view, then we are ready for compromises.
Also we should not identify too much with external factors, because that can backfire. Instead, we should listen to our inner voice and understand our values and principles as the measure of all things.
Conclusion: Stress management is easier if you know the causes.
If we understand the factors of interpretation, stubborness and over-definition, then we create less stress for ourselves. We are more relaxed and nothing gets us upset.
We have control because we are intrinsically motivated with focus on our priorities and we are not reactive.
If a delicate situation happens to us, we are able to objectively assess it and find a solution. Even if it is a very surprising problem, we always have a few moments to evaluate the situation. This is an important key to happiness and to finding the meaning of one’s life.
What do you think of this approach? What other methods can you use to cope with stress? Just write your ideas in the comment field and discuss!