Using the word 'stress' less could actually make you less stressed
By training ourselves to use positive words, might we be able to improve our stress levels?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.How often do you tell someone you are stressed?
If you’re in a demanding job, raising children, planning an event or living in a fast-paced environment this could probably be at least once a week.
However, by articulating that you feel “stressed” you might be making things worse for yourself. Seth Swirsky, a clinical psychotherapist, says that the word itself can become self-fulfilling.
“Just saying that you’re stressed can [set] off a cascade of chemicals in the body – epinephrine and cortisol – and neurotransmitters in the brain that make us feel, well, completely stressed out,” he told Well and Good.
“Our hearts beat faster, our breathing becomes more rapid, our blood pressure goes up, we can’t think straight and we are filled with fear and anxiety.”
So, in order to reduce the feelings and effects of stress we might just need to amend our language and thinking.
Pratima Raichur, an Ayurvedic (an ancient, holistic healing system developed in India) doctor, told the publication you should remove the word from your vocabulary and replace it with more positive language – which she suggests can be done by practising mindfulness.
“Cultivate awareness of your thoughts and emotions, identify your habits, find ways to let negativity go each day and find gratitude. Over time, this practise will start to shift the qualities of the vibration within your consciousness and ultimately alter the thoughts you think and the types of emotions those thoughts trigger.”
Mindfulness is a recently popular psychological method of focusing a person’s attention on the present and letting thoughts pass by without judgement.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments