When most of us think about stress as being bad, we are thinking about hyperstress. If you are familiar with stress you will know that not all stress is bad. Hyperstress, on the other hand, is bad and can kill you, so here is what to do.
What is Hyperstress?
Hyperstress occurs when you are pushed beyond what you can handle. Hyperstress results from getting overloaded or overworked. When you are hyper-stressed, little things can trigger a harsh and quick emotional response. If you are in a high-stress field you likely experience hyperstress routinely. Has anyone ever told you “you are on edge.” That is a clear sign you are experiencing hyperstress.
You May Ask “How Bad is Hyperstress?”
Hyperstress can be very dangerous to your health. You can experience both acute and chronic problems from hyperstress. Admittedly, hyperstress will also impact your relationships through your emotional changes. But there are real physical issues that you should be aware of if you suffer from hyperstress routinely.
Pinpointing Why You Get Hyperstressed
We live in a time of abundance and convenience. You shouldn’t have to struggle for the essentials in life. Think about this, has there ever been a day you were concerned that one of your basic needs wouldn’t be met? I am sure you don’t go without food, water, shelter, or clothes unless it is by choice. So if all our essential needs are taken care of why do you experience hyperstress?
Most Hyperstress is Self-Induced
You are your own worst enemy and your best ally when it comes to concurring hyperstress. Most of your stress is likely self-induced unless you are scared for your life or someone else’s. Some stress is caused by physical or emotional abuse, but most of us suffer from self-inflicted stress. Below we will cover stressors, the things that can trigger your body’s stress response. Understand that not all stress is bad, some stress is good. But hyperstress is bad, so let us see how you can prevent it.
Although You Have Everything You Need, You Want More
It is in our nature to work and strive. When you put too much pressure on yourself to achieve or gain, you get stressed. This, in turn, creates unnecessary demands on yourself. Nevertheless, stress is natural and there are a lot of benefits from stress, especially eustress. But not handling your stress properly can turn into hyperstress which can cause many health problems and maybe even kill you.
Hyperstress is a Sly Assassin
You are probably aware that in the long term, hyperstress can kill. Some people can become terribly debilitated by stress. You can be broken by the accumulation of both mental and physical stress. You may be so accustomed to your stress and situation that you consider it the norm. Additionally, you may have convinced yourself that you strive in stress. Unfortunately, this can be an extremely unhealthy and potentially dangerous attitude. Understandably, some stress is beneficial, but you can be under to much stress and everyone has a different threshold. Consequently, hyperstress can increase your chances of death through, changing your eating and sleeping habits and increasing your risk of disease.
Stress is Natural
Stress is an essential and natural condition needed for your survival and is a component of your basic fight-or-flight responses. Your stress can be good, for example, the anticipation of a first date or a reward. Also getting yourself “hyped up” before an interview, competition or performance is using your body’s natural response to stress. However, hyperstress can cause depression or debilitation and is clearly something to avoid.
Constant Change Will Constantly Contribute to Stress
One of the main causes of the increase in anxiety and stress-related condition is society’s need for continuous change. This ‘necessity’ of society generally, and for individuals specifically, is certainly increasing and practically inescapable. Your personal freedoms have become vastly changed through technology. Our rapidly changing society has added more complexity and unpredictability. For instance, two and three generations ago, your grandparents and great-grandparents likely had the same job or career for their entire life.
Inputs that Cause Stress are Unavoidable
Today, you will likely have many careers or jobs. These transitions will require you to learn new skills to take advantage of new opportunities. Similarly, your family model may look very different than previous generations. This may not be a bad thing, but things like an absent parent and divorce add a lot of stress, for both parents and kids. As a result of these necessary changes in major portions of your life, you will have additional stress.
The Speed of Communication Adds Stress
If you don’t think that your smartphone adds stress, imagine a vacation with your cell phone. Now imagine a vacation without your cell phone. Do you really believe that having your smartphone will reduce your stress and anxiety? Absolutely not, your phone is a constant input for increasing your anxiety. You are constantly bombarded with an ever-increasing volume of information to add to your anxiety. Additionally, with the internet, email, a cell phone you are likely expected to respond to others’ demands quickly. Consequently, it is very difficult to get away from the intrusion of technology which leads to stress and possible hyperstress.
Identifying Your Stressors
You don’t normally experience hyperstress from just one stressor. Although one stressor may be the overwhelming cause you likely have many stressors. The specific factors behind stress depend on things like your personality, general lifestyle, and how you cope and resolve problems. Unless you think about it you might be aware of things that are adding to your stress. Here is a list that can help you identify your stressors.
Environmental Stressors
Does where you live, work, or commute make you feel unsafe? Do you experience anxiety in crowds, from loud noises? Are these experiences part of your everyday life? If you answer yes to these questions you have three options. Option one is changing your environment. Option two is to find ways to increase your security and comfort in these situations. The third is the most difficult and likely will require additional support, and that is changing yourself.
Family and Relationships Stressors
Family stressors can be some of the most difficult stressors to deal with. Since you likely didn’t choose your family and you love your family you can’t change them. Some instances can be marital difficulties, rebellious teenagers, and looking after the elderly or needy children can cause serious stress and lead to hyperstress. In these situations, you may be able to ask for help from the person who is causing you the stress, remember they are family.
Work Stressors
Your job or career, and financial and social status at work can contribute to your stress. Stress can be caused by job dissatisfaction, low pay, work relationships, conflicts, or resentment with your boss or co-workers. Especially if you are experiencing some kind of harassment at work. Harassment of any kind can lead to hyperstress if you don’t deal with it. Fortunately, harassment and bullying have become socially and legally unacceptable.
Social Stressors
Your social scenario can have a significant impact on your stress. For example, unemployment, poverty, financial pressure, cultural influences, and discrimination of any kind can all offer fertile ground for stress.
Self Induced Stressors
Not all your stress is derived from external sources, you can also generate your own stressors such as:
- Worrying
- Pessimism
- Self-criticism
- Unrealistic Beliefs
- Perfectionism
- Low Self Esteem
- Anger and Holding It In
- Not Standing Up For Yourself
Hopefully, it is more clear to you that hyperstress can be an accumulation of many stressors and how you handle them. You must also know that stress is a normal and natural state our body needs and uses.
Why You Need Stress
You may feel that being stressed is bad. But think about it “Why would a natural process designed to keep you safe cause you so much harm?” Having stress is not bad, allowing your stress to accumulate and turn to hyperstress is bad. Understanding your stress and using it as eustress can be very beneficial. Check out 17 Brilliant Ways to Turn Distress into Eustress if you need help in using your stress as a benefit. Certainly, the decision to change takes great courage especially if you feel you can’t change your situation. So if you can’t be alone, then seek help, which also takes courage.
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