Most of the time, stress and anxiety know how to sneak in without even being noticed. Plus, they rarely make themselves known early in their occupation of our hearts, minds, and bodies.
Stress and anxiety have a habit of being cumulative…
One thing adds to another.
This is one of those times for me. Funny thing is, I’ve always been one to allow those things to build before I realize it’s time to grab my stress reduction tool bag. Even though it’s a well-equipped bag.
Oh, hi! I’m your stress. I’ve noticed you’ve been rather chill lately. Mind if I fix that for you. It’ll only be a little at a time—you’ll hardly notice… and never mind those palpitations.”
—Stress
Enter those “objects of anxiety”
I received an email this week from the online men’s group, EVRYMAN. They quoted British statesman Joseph Chamberlain from a speech he gave in 1898,
I think that you will all agree that we are living in most interesting times… in which day by day [brings] us new objects of interest, and… also, new objects for anxiety.”
The email continued…
It feels like every day we wake up to new “objects of anxiety,” and honestly, it’s really starting to take its toll.”
Damn right it is.
It seems like getting wigged out over something is our new national pastime.
As one who knows how to get stressed out easily, you’d think I’d keep a few tricks in my hip pocket. Well, I do. I just tend to forget I have them.
In this crazy, demanding, stress-inducing world… few of the stress-reducing tools are “on-demand.” They tend to be more additive, working in a more layered approach when we expect a simple cure.
One helps 10%. Another gives you 5% more. You keep working them in while inviting the relief to take effect.
The thing is, we forget to launch our stress countermeasures.
You know, countermeasures like getting enough sleep, eating right, getting some exercise, relaxing, hanging out with friends.
When the stressors start to find their way in, we slowly accommodate them by taking less evasive action.
When we get up early, skip meals, eat junk food, pause our exercise routine, cut out recreation, put our friends off—we’re only telling ourselves lies like, “I’m making time to get through this,” or “This is only temporary.”
We-Let-Stress-Fester-Fester-Fester.
If Joseph Chamberlain knew about objects of anxiety in 1898, you would think we might have learned to cope by now. Guess not!
Instead, most of us let our objects of anxiety slowly reach their boiling point.
Can you relate to the cycle I’ve been talking about?
Do you find that stress and anxiety can feel like someone flipped a switch?
My friend, artist and writer Lisa Porter Lawrence, recently wrote,
For most these days, it would seem that life transitions normally occurring over several months are now happening over WEEKS instead… Our emotional makeup is being challenged to keep pace, and we are taxed to stir our minds out of gears that drag on us and make the flow harder to accept. We have to snap into recovery modes much quicker than has been our habit for the grace periods around “assaults” is lessening.”
—Lisa Porter Lawrence, Artist and Writer
Check out her must-read blog post where she expands on these concepts.
When we’re in the thick of things and stress and anxiety have found their grip, it’s hard to break free. All the tips and advice you know you should have been following now feel out of reach. And it’s impossible to just flip that stress and anxiety switch to the “off” position.
When you find yourself in that situation, try asking yourself…
Is there something, some object of anxiety, that you’ve invited in to stay that you should consider letting go of? Something you’ve been hanging on to? Something you’ve locked onto that’s just not serving your interest?
Remember, stress and anxiety are joined at the hip.
When stress builds, clear thinking falters, allowing anxiety to follow.
With the steady flow of new objects of anxiety we encounter every day, we can’t resist locking on to some of them. They capture our attention, so we collect them and carry them along with us rather than leaving them be.
To break this vicious cycle, start with one anxiety that’s been occupying your thoughts the most and kick it aside. Tell it, “I’ve carried you along long enough and you haven’t done me any good. All you’ve done is add to my stress and worry. It’s time to let you go.”
The first one is the hardest. The next will be easier. After a few times, you’ll start to notice a lighter load.
The goal is to get to where you choose to pass on objects of anxiety you encounter, rather than inviting them in to stay.
Be untucked.
p.s. Oh! One last thing, if you found this post helpful, be sure to share it with a friend. Use the Share-Buttons at the top or the bottom of the post. Thanks, I owe you one.
Copyright © 2022 Jeff Meister – All Rights Reserved
As always, a well written, thought provoking post. Thank you.
Ironically, I have experienced stress and anxiety while painting a picture of a beautiful view of their soon to be home in New Mexico.
Funny, I am really not a perfectionist in most of my life, but I am when I am painting a picture. I love painting and usually finding it very relaxing and fulfilling, but I have my moments of “will I be able to pull it off” ?
No problem, I just calm down snd relax and enjoy.