Stress: Your Friend, Foe, and Roommate

Stress is now part and parcel of adult life, like a bonus that comes with your morning coffee. Or have you suspected that this very bonus makes coffee necessary? In reality, coffee alone is not enough to combat stress, so we won't recommend another cup here. However, we're also not claiming to be wizards who can solve all your problems. Instead, let's delve into why stress is so pervasive and why it is your worst, yet most faithful friend.

What is Stress and Why Hasn't It Disappeared?

It seems stress is a modern-day ailment cured by vacations to the Maldives, self-care rituals, or weekly "calmness gyroscope" sessions from TikTok. The truth is simple: stress isn't new. Our ancestors lived in constant stress. They had real reasons—like tigers that wanted to eat them, or neighbors who could drop by unannounced. Our brains came up with a genius system—fight or flight. Stress was necessary for survival.
The problem is that today’s "tigers" look very different. They are deadlines, endless Zoom calls, and social media reminding you that everyone else is more successful, thinner, and happier. Our brains, however, cannot distinguish between real danger and imagined ones. Every time you get an email from your boss saying "let's talk later," your brain thinks: "Tiger! Run!"

Stress and Nicotine: Allies or Enemies?

If you have ever tried to quit smoking, you know that nicotine and stress are like "inseparable friends." We even did a whole project titled "Nicotine," covering all the pitfalls of this story. Here’s the catch: nicotine initially eases stress. A miracle? No, just a chemical deception. It stimulates dopamine production, which is responsible for feelings of pleasure. You relax, and the world seems brighter and less tense. But this bliss is short-lived.

The problem is that nicotine only increases your long-term sensitivity to stress. Meaning, you calm down now, but in a few hours, your anxiety level doubles. Hence, a vicious circle: smoke—feel a bit calmer—stress kicks in again—smoke again. In our "How to Quit Smoking" project, we thoroughly explored how this chain works and how to break free from it. But for now, let’s return to stress.

How Does Stress Affect the Body and Mind?

Okay, we know stress makes us less happy, but what does it do to our bodies? It's simple: imagine you’re always ready for a fight, even though you don’t plan one. Your body is in a constant state of alert. Muscles are tense, the heart beats faster, and breathing accelerates. It’s like you're ready to run a marathon while actually just sitting at your laptop, deciding which message in your direct messages to ignore.

This continuous state of anxiety depletes your resources. Stress causes inflammation in the body, lowers immunity, and prolonged exposure can lead to chronic diseases, including cardiovascular conditions. Here, dopamine loses its magic. The more stress, the less enjoyment even your favorite episodes of "Game of Thrones" bring.

CAN STRESS BE CONTRILLED?

You know it—it’s not news that stress can be controlled. But to remind you, here are a few effective techniques that can help:

Deep Breathing

You’ve heard it a million times, but it really works. Deep breathing signals your brain: “Relax, it’s not a tiger!”

Physical Activity

Everyone knows that exercise is a natural stress reliever. Sometimes even a walk can transform you from an irritated beast to a calm Buddha.

Thought Control

Caught in constant negative thinking? Congratulations, it’s a normal stress effect. But you can control them through mindfulness or cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Breaks

Just give yourself a pause. It’s not a sign of weakness but a necessity.

Wim Hof Method

A combo of breathing exercises, cold showers, and meditation helps significantly reduce stress. You’ve probably seen him online, but if not—just wait. Soon, we’ll have a detailed article on our site discussing this method.

So, all these methods are like little tools in your arsenal for fighting stress.

Why not just eliminate stress forever? Because it’s impossible. Stress is a natural part of life, and the main task is not to eliminate it, but to learn to live with it so that it doesn’t control your life.

If we learn to manage our stress, it becomes not a source of irritation, but a source of strength. And here we come to what was described in our "Dopamine"project—the ability to balance between pleasure and challenges makes life more fulfilling and harmonious.

Why Is It Important to Learn to Live with Stress Rather Than Fight It?

CONCLUSION : Stress is Not an Enemy But a Challenge

Stress is not the monster you should fear. It is more like an unpleasant neighbor you need to learn to coexist with. You can't move away, but you can make sure it doesn't ruin your life. By controlling your attitude towards stress, you control yourself. And, in reality, this is already a significant victory.
So, the next time life throws a new "tiger" at you, just take a deep breath and remind yourself: it’s just stress, and you are the boss who controls it.