Stress: Your Friend, Foe, and Roommate

Stress is now a pivotal part of adult life, like a bonus that comes together with a cup of coffee. However, have you ever thought that this very bonus makes coffee necessary? In reality, coffee alone is never enough to combat stress, so we will not recommend to go for another cup. Nonetheless, we are also not claiming to be ''wizards'', who can solve all your problems. Instead, let's explore why stress is so pervasive and why it might be your worst, yet most faithful friend.

What is Stress and Why Hasn't It Disappeared Yet?

Nowadays, it seems stress is an ailment which can be cured by going on vacation to the Maldives, self-care rituals, or weekly "calmness gyroscope" sessions on TikTok. The truth is pretty simple - stress isn't new to this world. Our ancestors lived in constant stress. They had actual reasons to feel that way. Just imagine a situation when a tiger wants to eat you alive, or something less serious, like neighbours who could stop by your house unannounced. As a result, human brain came up with a genius system — ''fight or run''. In that way, stress was and still is necessary for survival.

The problem is that modern "tigers" look very different. They appear before us in a form of 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 dangers and imaginary ones. So, every time you get an email from your boss saying "let's talk later," your brain thinks: "It's a 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 have a whole project titled "Nicotine," discovering all the pitfalls of this story. And you know what? Nicotine initially releases stress. A miracle? No, just a chemical deception. Once again, nicotine stimulates dopamine production, which is responsible for feelings like pleasure. You relax, and the world seems brighter and less tense. But this bliss does not last long.

The underlying problem here refers to nicotine only increasing your sensitivity to stress in the long-term. It means you might calm down now, but in a few hours, your anxiety level doubles. Hence, a vicious circle appears: smoke— a moment of calmness — stress returns — 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 actually 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, heart beats faster, and breathing accelerates. The feeling is similar to when you're ready to run a marathon, but in reality you just glare at your laptop, deciding which message in your DM to ignore.

This continuous state of anxiety depletes your resources. Stress may cause inflammation in the body, lower immunity, and prolonged exposure can lead to chronic diseases, even cardiovascular conditions. Here, dopamine loses its magic. The more stress you experience, the less joy even your favourite episodes of "Game of Thrones" bring.

CAN STRESS BE CONTRILLED?

You know it already. It is common knowledge that stress can be controlled. As a special reminder, there are few effective techniques that can help:

Deep Breathing

You’ve heard it over 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 yourself in constant negative thinking? No need to panic! It’s a normal side effect of being stressed. You can try to control your thoughts by being mindful or using cognitive-behavioural therapy.

Breaks

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

The Wim Hof Method

A unique combo of breathing exercises, cold shower, 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 the little tools in your arsenal to fight 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 and to deal with it, so that it doesn’t control your life.

If we learn how to manage our stressed state, it then becomes not a source of irritation, but rather a source of strength. And here we go back 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 be scared of. It is more like an unpleasant neighbour, with whom you need to learn to coexist with. You can't move to another house, 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 that it’s just stress, but you are the boss who can control it.