We assume that we get stressed out about the same things: Too much work, not enough money, arguments with our spouse, difficult children, you know what I mean…and therefore we are all equally troubled by these events.
But have you noticed that in practice, what seems like a major problem for one person, may be ok to another? We all have a different genetic make-up, so therefore have unique personalities, strengths, weaknesses and motivators. So, rather than trying to change our circumstances (difficult and brings on more stress), or medicating ourselves (the conventional approach) to blot out those bad feelings, wouldn’t it make more sense to ‘reframe’ our attitudes and expectations to enable stress reduction?
In my homeopathic practice, I treat the constitutional type of the person to enable them to get a new perspective which helps reduce their stress, which is usually at the root of their illness.
Here are some examples of how different constitutional types get stressed out by different things:
Think Alan Sugar (Nux.Vom.) – Goal orientated and gets irritable if something gets in the way. Although polite can’t always empathise with others. Gets bored and impatient when he has nothing to do. Stress will occur when they are stopped doing what they set out to do. As a result they tend to suffer from irritability, excema, allergies and digestive problems and strong craving for stimulants when they are worn out. or Think Harry Potter (Nat. Mur.) – People who carry emotional wounds from childhood, but put on a brave face. They tend to make themselves responsible for other people’s welfare and can be seen in caring professions. They experience stress when they feel rejected or over-responsible, and they could end up suffering from depression or anxiety. Physically they can tend towards migrains or recurrent colds/chest infections. or Think “Winnie the Pooh” (Calc. Carb.) – Someone who focuses on security. May choose careers in finance or the building industry. Their personal lives are emotionally balanced, but tend towards caution when dealing with ‘worldly matters’. Stress comes about when they feel insecure in some way, which in children could be something as simple as moving house. Physically fairly robust but have a slow metabolism, making bodily function sluggish.
Although these are stereotypes, they can illustrate how we can all get stressed out in different ways, depending on which lens we hold up to the world. Our stress, however, gives us the opportunity to look at and revise our own beliefs which in turn, enables our personal growth.
Here’s a simple exercise that you may find useful when you’re feeling stressed out:
The next time you feel overwhelmed by mental or physical stress, stop doing/thinking for a minute and ask yourself the following question: “what do I believe in this moment that is causing my stress?” Don’t attempt to answer the question, remain still and allow some idea or answer to emerge by itself.