Managing Stress

Mental Flexibility | 4.6.20 | By Shilo Zeller, BSc.

Stress can be dealt with in three ways: Adapt, Remove, and Change. Adapt refers to shifting your perspective on the stressful event. Remove and Change include stepping away from the stressor or stressful environment or changing the stressor so it is no longer in your life. Typically, most of us tend to err on the side of removing or changing, and very few think of adapting perspective, though this might be the most effective. 

So how can we adapt our perspective? One way is to look at what the stress might be positively adding to our lives rather than the negatives it is adding. For example, while the COVID-19 pandemic is stressful for everyone in their own way, it’s also allowed us to have time to tackle to do lists at home, given the Earth a much needed break from pollution, and an opportunity to connect with our loved ones in different ways. When we stress, certain hormones are released. Similarly, we also have stress recovery hormones that are released once we’re out of a stressful event/environment. So how do we increase those recovery hormones while cortisol is likely still present? It’s all in the mindset!

DHEA and nerve growth hormones can be released if we recognize the stressful event as a challenging opportunity that’ll help us grow, rather than a force that will wear us down. Next time you find yourself in a stressful situation, take a step back and see if you can evaluate the good things and the challenging opportunities that lie ahead.