A Brief Exploration of Stress

I would like to add the quick disclaimer here that this article’s only intent is to generate a lighter perspective for readers while we are going through these troubled times. Mental health can be a serious issue, and in some cases, requires professional help.

We all have to deal with stress when it comes to the crunch. The better half of my judgment would bet that a lot of us, working day in, day out, sticking to a regular routine, are condemned to deal with acute anxiety. Given the current circumstances, this regular routine, so to speak, has broken, repaired, and faltered again and again­ — so we can only surmise that our stress has exacerbated. Fortunately (or not), I have plenty of experience when it comes to that matter, so, instead of belabouring the point, I shall pen down my thoughts. However, I am not a professional, and am merely commenting on matters, based on observation.

Going systematically, let me begin with the most common physical side-effects. Constant headaches, a stiff neck, and loss of appetite are quite common in concurrence with work-related stress. To some people, anxiety reveals itself in its nastier form: twisting stomach pains, especially during more intense periods of study or work, sometimes late into the night, before an exam or, say, a big presentation. If you ask me, a stress ball simply makes matters worse rather than helping one’s situation.

Next, to suggest that stress makes one emotional is something of an understatement. It has the devastating effect of sparking aggrievances over the most irrelevant and minute matters that could exist; matters as superficial as losing the television remote, or noticing a crumpled up corner of a carpet. These may sound like exceedingly random instances, but they are nevertheless true examples, believe you me.

That being said, for some, this conjecture could seem incomplete in its interpretation of stress. There are those for whom stress can have a different impact. We mustn’t forget those who may develop unusually cold and withdrawn traits all of a sudden, preferring to be left alone in their own corner. Their complete transition of character clearly represents how easily a notion as simple as stress can overwhelm the staunchest of personalities.

Needless to say, the important lesson to take away from all this would be to avoid stress entirely. However, given our circumstances, one must say that the chances of that happening are close to infinitesimal, and unfortunately, perhaps even hypothetical. To avoid the risk of causing further anxiety to those reading this solemn, glum commentary, I shall try to bring your attention to the silver lining of this miserable, vein-popping cloud. There is always, and I mean always, a time close at hand, a moment within reach, when one can discover a sense of tranquillity within the chaos.

With that said, allow me to share a rather useful method of temporarily diverting attention from stress: by clearing one’s mind, and focusing on a time when all difficulties are past, and all hurdles cleared. From personal experience, I find useful a technique wherein one imagines their troubles as mobile applications, then systemically swipes them up, away from one’s headspace, as if one were closing such applications on a smartphone, leaving a vast and gaping white space within the mind. One could call it a (rather modern, if you will) practice of deep meditation. Known for helping many a stressed soul, these sort of techniques can — if not get rid of one’s tension entirely — at least temporarily push away long, sleepless nights. Another coping mechanism that many find helpful is the feeling of finding one’s own sense of peace and clarity through a satisfying activity. This could be different for each one of us. Some find solace in cooking, art, music, stepping out for a walk, or simply changing an aspect of one’s environment for the sake of mental stimulation.

Ticking off daily menial tasks certainly won’t do any harm to one’s peace of mind. Knowing that troubling matters have been momentarily taken care of, one can take a deep breath, and allow oneself to relax for a blissful, if brief, interlude.

Of course, one could also really just get a hold of the occasional painkiller tablet— it would do instant wonders for the headache.