Debunking the Myths about Stress

Myths and Truth about Stress. Part I

Truth not Myths about Stress

Have you heard these myths? The truth is:

Myth: Stress is bad for you.

Truth: Stress is not bad or good–it just is. Stress is a life change, and change is a measure of life in process. We all experience change; stress depends on how we view the situation.

Myth: Agitated, hyperactive people are more stressed than calm, quiet people.

Truth: You can come to feel as you behave, and your behavior is directed by how you think. Changing how you think about events is the greatest single hope for dealing with changes in our lives, for preventing illness, and for true healing.

Myth: Busy executives are more stressed than their less pressured employees.

Truth: All groups and all ages are victims to ineffective coping with change and the possibility of stress and strain induced illness.

Myth: Major life events such as death, stress us to the limit.

Truth: Transitional life crises on a day-to-day basis can cause profound changes for the body as do major life events such as births, deaths, and divorces.

Myth: Type A people are hurried, ambitious, and worried. Type B people are calm, easy going, less ambitious and more settled.

Truth: The effect of life changes cannot be assessed by looking at activity levels of the Type A or Type B individuals.

Myth: Some people are able to thrive and do their best when stressed.

Truth: Changes in life can be challenging, but no one can maintain lifelong wellness through constant adaptation to rapid and recurrent change.

Myth: You can be stressed for a little while without affecting your health.

Truth: Disease is a process caused by how we interpret change in our lives. Sometimes our resistance to change causes us to produce more stress hormones.

Myth: Depression and anxiety is caused by stress, as are mental illnesses that require medication.

Truth: Change causes stress and inability to change often contributes to depression and anxiety. People ultimately are helped by themselves and often with the aid of a qualified facilitator.

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