Our days invariably look like frantic races that we come out of on the losing side. Unless you are a genius of organisation and entirely impervious to the effect of our hormones, it is unlikely that you will manage never to crack from time to time — all the more so since our own stress is compounded by that of our surroundings: family obligations, work, gridlocked traffic. Faced with this ambient stress, four natural levers help us hold on: looking after your lifestyle, taking your leisure seriously, tending to your spirituality and weaving your social network.
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
I have always loved the title of that Almodóvar film. I find it brilliantly true. Almost universal. And eternal. The further time goes on, the harsher it becomes towards women, under the pretext of their emancipation. As though it had ever been gentle with them, back in the days of their “submission”. Public enemy No. 1 has never been that extra kilo that settles straight onto our hips the moment we eat our favourite chocolate fondant, but stress.
What is ambient stress?
Jokes aside, we are not as frivolous as we like to let on, and if we find ourselves at the end of our tether, it is very often for reasons more serious than our small childish obsessions. And since the balance of the family and the well-being of everyone in it so often runs through us, we have to stay calm, smiling and relaxed in all circumstances, to know how to listen and how to reassure. In spite of ourselves the tensions build up, we absorb them as best we can, but little by little recovery becomes harder and harder. The ultimate horror? We even dream about the day's problems at night. This isn't meant to alarm you, but something seriously needs to change. Here are a few avenues to help you switch off, to let you catch your breath and start to recover.
Sensoriality
Sensoriality is the language that allows the nervous system to communicate with the environment on the one hand, and with the body itself on the other. We use it every day without paying it any attention, and we do not realise its full usefulness or everything it does. Sensoriality, then, is not only the use of our senses; it is also our throat tightening under the effect of stage fright, the intense heat or the flushing cheeks when we are shy or ashamed. It is a language that creates a link between the outside world and ourselves.
Reconnecting with the moderators
The moderators are natural means within everyone’s reach. There is nothing better than good attitudes and good habits for facing the stress of daily life. Four different categories can be identified.
Looking after your lifestyle
One of the best factors of resistance to stress is making sure you have a healthy lifestyle:
- Follow a balanced diet.
- Take enough physical exercise (an average of 20 minutes of sport, 3 times a week, does the job).
- Completely cutting out stimulants — alcohol, tobacco, coffee — also helps you manage your nervousness better.
Taking your leisure seriously
Leisure is one of the best ways of creating emotions different from anxiety, oppression, fear and nervousness. With that in mind, you can take up an activity outside work. Just as you can treat yourself to some small thing, go to the theatre or the cinema, play music, or sign up to a painting or photography club.
Tending to your spirituality
Numerous studies have shown that spirituality has a positive influence on our psychological and physical balance. Faith, whatever its source (religious or moral), gives meaning to life. Believing in something and following the practices that flow from it soothes the mind and brings serenity.
Weaving your social network
In English-speaking countries, social support is one of the best escapes from the stress of daily life. The social network is made up of all our human relationships. It helps us unburden ourselves of the loads we carry. It is enough, for instance, to share a worry or to tell someone about a sorrow for its weight to be reduced in reality, without our really measuring it.
| Lever | What it brings in the face of stress |
|---|---|
| Lifestyle | A balanced diet, ~20 min of sport 3 times a week, cutting out stimulants (alcohol, tobacco, coffee). |
| Leisure | An activity outside work, outings (theatre, cinema), an artistic practice — to create emotions different from stress. |
| Spirituality | Giving meaning to life, soothing the mind, bringing serenity. |
| Social network | Sharing a worry or a sorrow to reduce its weight; leaning on your human relationships. |
