When Stress Becomes More Than Just A Bad Day

When Stress Becomes More Than Just a Bad Day

Stress is something almost all of us experience.

It can come from our work, our finances, our relationships, our responsibilities, or simply from trying to keep up with the demands of everyday life. In small amounts, stress can even be useful. It can motivate us, sharpen our concentration and help us respond when something needs our immediate attention.

The problem begins when stress doesn't go away.

When one stressful day becomes a stressful week, and then a stressful month, we can slowly become accustomed to living under pressure. We tell ourselves that we are coping. We keep going because there are bills to pay, families to care for, businesses to run and responsibilities that cannot simply be put aside.

But our minds and bodies may be telling us a very different story.

What Is Stress?

Stress is our natural response to pressure or demands placed upon us. When we feel threatened, overwhelmed or unable to cope, our bodies react. We may feel tense, anxious, irritable or exhausted. We may struggle to concentrate or sleep properly.

Sometimes the signs are surprisingly easy to ignore.

We may become impatient with the people around us. We may lose interest in things we once enjoyed. We might wake up tired even after a night's sleep. Small problems can suddenly seem enormous, and decisions that were once simple can become difficult.

These can all be signs that stress is beginning to take control.

When Stress Leads to Burnout

Burnout doesn't normally arrive overnight.

It often develops gradually after a prolonged period of stress. We keep pushing ourselves, believing that tomorrow will be easier or that things will improve once we get through the next problem.

But sometimes tomorrow simply brings another problem.

Eventually, our physical and emotional reserves can become exhausted. We may feel that we have nothing left to give. Motivation disappears, everyday tasks become difficult and life can begin to feel like something we are merely surviving rather than enjoying.

That is why recognising the warning signs of prolonged stress is so important.

The earlier we recognise what is happening, the sooner we can begin doing something about it.

Why I Wrote No Rest From Stress

I didn't write No Rest From Stress simply from research or theory.

I wrote it because I have personally experienced the devastating effects that prolonged stress and burnout can have on a person's life.

I know what it is like to keep pushing forward, believing that you can handle everything, until eventually you discover that you cannot.

That experience changed my life.

It also made me realise how important it is for people to understand stress before they reach breaking point. If we can recognise the warning signs, understand what is happening to us and learn practical ways of responding, we have a far better chance of preventing stress from completely overwhelming our lives.

That became one of the main reasons for writing No Rest From Stress.

Understanding It Is the Beginning

The book is designed to help readers understand how stress develops, recognise how it may be affecting different areas of their lives and begin taking practical steps towards managing it.

It isn't about pretending that life's problems will disappear.

They won't.

It is about learning that although we cannot always control what happens around us, we can learn to change the way we respond to those pressures.

Throughout No Rest From Stress, I share practical ideas, personal experience and tools that can help you examine your own stress, recognise your warning signs and begin finding a healthier way forward.

The journey from stress and burnout doesn't necessarily happen quickly. Recovery takes understanding, patience and, sometimes, the willingness to make changes.

But it can begin with something very simple:

Recognising that the way you are living today does not have to be the way you live tomorrow.

If you are constantly tired, overwhelmed, anxious or simply feel that life has become too much, don't ignore what your mind and body may be telling you.

Start by understanding what is happening.

Then begin taking one step at a time.

That is what No Rest From Stress is about — helping you move away from simply surviving stress and towards taking control of your life again.

From Victim... To Victor.

Stress doesn't normally arrive one morning and announce, “I'm here, and I'm going to upset your life.”

It creeps into our lives quietly.

Looking back at my own experience, I can see there were warning signs long before I reached the point where stress and burnout seriously affected my life. The problem was that I didn't recognise them for what they were. I was busy. I had responsibilities. There were problems to solve and things that needed to be done.

So I carried on.

And I think that's what many of us do.

We tell ourselves we're just tired. We blame a bad night's sleep, pressure at work, family problems or simply having too much to do. We convince ourselves that once we get through the next week, finish the next job or sort out the next problem, everything will settle down.

Sometimes it does.

But sometimes it doesn't.

Your Body and Mind May Be Trying to Tell You Something

Stress can show itself in many different ways, and not everybody experiences it in the same way.

You may find that you're constantly tired, even after you've slept. Perhaps you're becoming more irritable with the people around you. Things that you would normally handle quite easily suddenly seem overwhelming.

You may struggle to concentrate, forget things, lose interest in activities you normally enjoy or find yourself lying awake at night thinking about tomorrow.

There can be physical signs too — headaches, tense muscles, an unsettled stomach, a racing heartbeat or simply feeling that your body never completely relaxes.

Of course, physical symptoms can have many different causes, so anything persistent or concerning should always be discussed with a healthcare professional.

One of these things on its own doesn't necessarily mean you're heading towards burnout. But when several of them start appearing regularly, I believe they're worth paying attention to.

I Wish I Had Paid Attention Earlier

This is something I feel strongly about because of what happened in my own life.

I didn't wake up one morning suffering from serious stress. It developed over time. There were signs along the way, but I kept pushing through them.

At the time, I genuinely believed that carrying on was the sensible thing to do. I thought that if I just kept going, I would eventually get through whatever was causing the pressure.

I thought I could cope.

Until eventually, I couldn't.

That's one of the reasons I wrote No Rest From Stress. I wanted to share what I learned so that perhaps somebody else might recognise what is happening to them earlier than I did.

You don't have to wait until stress reaches breaking point before doing something about it.

Ask Yourself a Few Simple Questions

Every now and then, stop and ask yourself:

Am I constantly exhausted?

Am I worrying more than I used to?

Am I becoming impatient or irritable with people I care about?

Am I finding it difficult to switch off?

Do I still enjoy the things I usually enjoy?

Does life feel as though it is becoming one long list of things I have to get through?

You don't need to analyse every answer. Sometimes simply being honest with yourself is a very good place to start.

Don't Ignore the Warning Lights

I sometimes think of stress like the warning lights on the dashboard of a car.

When a warning light appears, you don't immediately dispose of the car. But you shouldn't cover the light with a piece of tape and continue driving indefinitely either.

You investigate it.

Our minds and bodies deserve the same attention.

Recognising that you're under too much pressure isn't weakness. It's information. And once you recognise what's happening, you can start making changes.

That might mean slowing down, talking to somebody, changing a few habits, getting more rest or seeking professional help when you need it.

In my experience, recognising the warning signs and making changes early is far better than waiting until stress has taken control of your life.

I learned that lesson the hard way.

My hope is that you won't have to.

I've been where you may be heading. Let me show you what I've learned.

Kevin Green
Author of No Rest From Stress