What is Stress?
Stress is an inevitable part of our lives, and it can either be conducive or adverse to our mental health. The WHO defines stress as a natural human response to address challenges or threats. However, the way you manage stress is critical.
Just as each individual has their way of communicating, they also possess a distinct “stress language.” This article explores the concept of stress language, delving into how people recognize and express stressors. It also introduces the four reactions: “fight, flight, freeze, and fawn.”
Identifying Stress Triggers
It is essential first to identify triggers that cause stress to understand your stress language. These triggers can include environmental factors (crowded spaces), work-related pressures (job overload), relationship dynamics (not meeting internal expectations), financial challenges (unclear goals), and parenting (misalignment of approaches or single parenting). By recognizing these triggers, you can develop an approach to managing stress.
Expressing Stress
People express stress verbally, physically, or behaviourally; this expression is a part of their stress language. Some individuals communicate their feelings verbally and seek support through conversation. Others may experience physical manifestations such as headaches or muscle tension when stressed. Changes in behavior like irritability or withdrawal can also indicate heightened stress levels. Recognizing these expressions is critical to adopting alternative stress responses.
The Four Fundamental Responses
Fight | Flight | Freeze | Fawn
The involuntary responses of fight or flight are ingrained reactions within human nature when faced with stressful situations. Both cause a rapid heart rate. While the response known as “fight” involves confronting stress head-on, the “flight” response leads to seeking an escape or distance from stressors.
These responses can prime you for positive action or lead to unhealthy stress management methods, such as angry attacks and avoidance. For example, during a tight work schedule, employees actively share ideas, challenge viewpoints, and work towards solutions in a fight response. As for the flight response, an overwhelmed team member avoids project-related meetings during a challenging project and distances themselves from the task.
On the other hand, the “freeze” response involves physical immobility, a drop in heart rate rather than an increase, and muscle tension. This reaction reduces the reality of highly upsetting situations, leaving the victim numb or detached. For example, amidst sudden changes at work, the employee becomes physically immobile, disengages, and feels detached from the situation.
Heightened alertness and the “fawn” response involve appeasing others to avoid conflict. For instance, in a work setting, someone exhibiting the ‘fawn’ response might consistently agree with colleagues, even if they have differing opinions, to maintain a harmonious atmosphere. This tendency to prioritize others’ comfort and suppresses one’s needs can lead to stress.
Adopting Alternative Stress Responses
Understanding your stress language is the first step to adopting healthy coping strategies. Using these approaches, you can develop a stress language that helps to reconcile workplace stress with resilience and well-being.
● Remain attentive to your stress signals, and cultivate a heightened awareness to effectively respond amidst life’s challenges.
● Open communication with colleagues creates an atmosphere of understanding, where people disclose what is bothering them and get assisted.
● Effectively managing time enables employees to tackle work issues while maintaining a healthy and balanced life.
