6 Myths About Stress That Make You Miserable

Belief does not have to be true in order for it to affect you emotionally. Myths about stress can mess you up. 

You can move from distressed to de-stressed by examining your beliefs and thought patterns.

Are any of these myths making you miserable?

1. MYTH #1 – “Stress comes from stressors.”

“I am stressed because of (fill-in-the-blank – my boss, my kids, my spouse, my bank account, traffic jams, my weight, my team losing, etc.)” The sum total of ALL the negative experiences in your life is not stress.

2. MYTH #2 – “A few drinks can help you release stress.”

Alcohol actually stimulates the release of the stress hormone cortisol.

Your loved ones will get on your case about this. Alcohol and stress “feed” each other. People turn to alcohol to relieve stress and stress dampens the effects of alcohol and stimulates the addictive neurotransmitter dopamine.

3. MYTH #3 – “Getting enough sleep, exercising and eating right works to reduce stress.”

Life is complex, unknowable and often distressing. There is no use pretending that eating more kale or two minutes spent in eagle pose is going to change all that.

4. MYTH #4 – “Some stress is good for you.”

Stimulation is good for you. Stress is not. Stress contributes to 75 to 90% of medical conditions, including the six leading causes of death.

5. MYTH #5 – “Stress comes from being driven.”

Ambition does not cause affliction. High achievers can be as serene as others are “stressed.”

6. MYTH #6 – ” Stress is the same for everybody.”

Look for something that doesn’t bother you that other people say stresses them (a fear of heights, driving fast, flying). People who experience stress in those situations may say that it’s inevitable because they can’t imagine not feeling stress, but you know that this isn’t so.

Their emotions come from their beliefs. The same is true for whatever you’re stressed out about now (money, health, work, etc.). It’s entirely possible to think differently and not experience stress in your life.

HOW CAN I DEAL WITH STRESS?

Its not what’s happening to you but what’s happening in you that is the determinant factor in distress.

1. Look in.

The word “stressor” was coined in the mid-50’s to refer to external things that provoke stress. It is now embedded in the fabric of our collective worldview.

In reality, stressors are myths. Why?

Because nothing has the inherent power to provoke stress.

Nothing.

Stress is internally produced. It arises out of fear, anger, insecurity and trying to control the uncontrollable.

2. Look up.

Stress dissipates when you surrender control to God.

An ancient story about a man named Jacob holds a key to stress. He was a nation builder, but he was also a swindler by nature.

Jacob and his mother conspired to trick his older brother out of his inheritance. He prospered in peace over decades. Then, he was forced to face his brother who was coming at him with 400 armed men. Imagining the worst, Jacob became “fearful and distressed.”

He spent a sleepless night wrestling with God for peace in a struggle so intense he displaced his hip.

Resolved to trust God, he limped to the meeting the next day and discovered his brother had actually come in peace, not revenge. Whew.

Jacob’s distress was created internally. It was relived by making wrongs, right with God.

These words have been my peace for over 40 years: “Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your heart and mind quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”

Are one of these myths eating your lunch? How are you dealing with stress? Please join the conversation below.

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