We’ve all been stressed before. Some of us handle it better than others. I wasn’t one of those lucky people until I gained a few superpowers and became Damsel Undistressed rather than Damsel in Distress. Yeah, maybe this tower I’m stuck in will always be guarded by that Dragon (chronic stress!), but he never bothers me, not with my tension-relieving breathing, laughter, and other easy ways to not have a heart attack at age 25.
Wikipedia introduces stress as what happens when we feel off-balance:
“Stress is the condition that results when person-environment transactions lead the individual to perceive a discrepancy, whether real or not, between the demands of a situation and the resources of the person’s biological, psychological or social systems. In medical terms, stress is the disruption of homeostasis through physical or psychological stimuli.”
Stress can be further defined as eustress or distress. The one we want to lessen the effects of is distress.
“Where stress enhances function (physical or mental, such as through strength training or challenging work) it may be considered eustress. Persistent stress that is not resolved through coping or adaptation (distress) may lead to escape (anxiety) or withdrawal (depression) behavior.”
You might experience stress from work, school, your environment, personal relationships, not sleeping well, or even all of these. To not be overwhelmed by the many dragons in your life, take a few minutes out of each day to relax, meditate, or laugh. Damsel Undistressed will help you with new ideas and tips every day. Remember — as Ovid, a Roman poet, once said,
“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”