5 Common myths about stress

Myth 1:  Stress Is The Same For Everybody

Many of Robin Williams’ acquaintances interviewed since his death have noted that they never saw him unhappy, yet Different things cause stress for all of us, and all of us experience stress differently. What is stressful for one person may or may not be stressful for another; we all respond to stress in entirely unique ways.

Myth 2:  Stress Is Always Bad For You

Everyone experiences stress – it’s a normal and often healthy part of life. Some amount of stress can help you meet daily goals, boost your memory, and function as a warning system to keep you safe. Too much stress, however, can be very damaging to the mind and body.

Myth 3:  Stress Is Everywhere, So You Can’t Do Anything About It

Life can often be stressful, but you can plan your life so that stress does not overwhelm you. Effective planning involves setting priorities and working on simple problems first, solving them, and then going on to more complex difficulties. When stress is mismanaged, it’s difficult to prioritize.

Myth 4:  The Most Popular Techniques For Reducing Stress Are The Best Ones

No universally effective stress reduction techniques exist. We are all different, our lives are different, our situations are different, and our reactions are different. It takes trial and error to see what coping mechanisms work best for you.

Myth 5:  Only Major Symptoms Of Stress Require Attention

This myth assumes that the “minor” symptoms, such as headaches or stomach acid, may be safely ignored. Minor symptoms of stress are the early warnings that your life is getting out of hand and that you need to do a better job of managing stress.

Credits:

Author: Pragya Lodha, MINDS Mumbai Program Director & Psychologist

Acknowledgements:

Ankita Gupta, MINDS Research Associate
Anoushka Thakkar, MINDS Research Associate 
Roshni Dadlani, MINDS Communications Lead