Stress Management Is a Scam

Stress management is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. You’re still bleeding out.

Deep breathing doesn’t correct unrealistic expectations.

Taking a walk doesn’t resolve people-pleasing.

Squeezing a stress ball doesn’t help you establish boundaries.

Stress management doesn’t work when we ignore root causes.

Symptoms of stress:

1. Headaches
2. Muscle tension
3. Body aches
4. Fatigue
5. Trouble sleeping
6. Rapid heartbeat
7. Dry mouth
8. Lower immunity
9. Irritability
10. Difficulty concentrating or racing thoughts
11. Loss of motivation
12. Pessimism
13. Indecisiveness
14. Avoidance
15. Overeating or loss of appetite
16. Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, or drugs

Chamomile tea won’t fix a broken team.

A weekend away won’t fix your attitude toward a toxic boss.

Meditation won’t fix a calendar filled with meaningless meetings.

Reject the glamour of solving symptoms. It’s easier to deal with fruit than to dig up the root. Ask yourself why you’re stressed.

Reject the Lies of Stress Management

Don’t just manage stress. Investigate it.

7 questions that dig deeper than symptoms.                      

1. What am I tolerating that needs to stop?
2. Where am I overcommitted—and why?
3. How am I living someone else’s values?
4. Where am I looking for satisfaction in the wrong places?
5. How am I letting someone else run my life?
6. Why don’t I speak up?
7. What gives me energy?

Real relief from stress begins when you stop comforting symptoms and start confronting causes.

Get Real About Stress

Meaningful stress makes life worthwhile.

“Eustress (healthy stress) helps us stay motivated, work toward goals, and feel good about life.” Dr. Michael Genovese

The American Institute of Stress says good stress helps you grow. Anyone who goes to the gym understands that stress expands capacity.

A Final Word

Stress management strategies are often good for us. They just don’t solve the problem.

Which idea in this post seems most useful to you today?

Moving From Distress to Eustress – Leadership Freak

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This post was previously published on LEADERSHIPFREAK.BLOG and is republished with Creative Commons license.

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