Stress Resilience and Vulnerability
Stress is a part of everyday life, and while some stress can be beneficial in motivating us to achieve goals or push ourselves to new limits, too much stress can have negative effects on our physical and mental health. Stress is a condition that disrupts a person's psychological balance. This stress causes a person's depressive disorder and behaviour disorder, disturbs the social domains, and makes a person anxious. Some individuals may be more resilient to stress, while others may be more vulnerable.
Why are people more stressed these days?
We are so addicted to social media these days that our mental health is suffering badly, and we are fooled into thinking that we have to do everything at the same time, which is never possible in reality.
When we try to do too much, we often get distracted from our real focus, resulting in a sense of lack of accomplishment, and stress gradually builds up. Today's work environment has become stressful due to long working hours, a lack of job security, low wages, and increasing competition. Moreover, nowadays people are stressed due to various reasons, like: We are more stressed due to personal problems than financial problems.
Stress Resilience
Stress resilience is the ability to adapt and cope with stressors or difficult situations without experiencing negative psychological or physical effects. Resilient individuals are able to bounce back from stress more quickly and effectively, and are less likely to experience negative consequences such as anxiety, depression, or physical illness.
Some factors that can contribute to stress resilience include genetics, environment, life experiences, and coping skills. Resilient individuals may have a genetic predisposition to handle stress better, or they may have learned effective coping strategies through their life experiences.
There are several strategies that can help individuals build stress resilience. One of the most important is to practise healthy coping mechanisms, such as exercise, meditation, or deep breathing. Seeking social support and maintaining positive relationships can also help build resilience, as can prioritizing self-care and setting realistic goals.
Vulnerability to Stress
Vulnerability to stress refers to the opposite of stress resilience. Individuals who are vulnerable to stress may have a harder time coping with stressors, and may be more likely to experience negative psychological or physical effects. They may also be more prone to developing stress-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, or depression.
Like stress resilience, vulnerability to stress can be influenced by a variety of factors. Genetics, environment, life experiences, and coping skills can all play a role in determining an individual's vulnerability to stress. For example, individuals who have experienced trauma or abuse may be more vulnerable to stress than those who have not.
Strategies to Improve Stress Resilience
While some individuals may be naturally more stress-resilient or vulnerable than others, there are strategies that can be used to improve stress resilience and reduce vulnerability to stress. Some of these strategies include:
Practising healthy coping mechanisms: Exercise, meditation, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques can help individuals manage stress and build resilience.
Seeking social support: Maintaining positive relationships and seeking support from friends and family can help individuals build resilience and cope with stress.
Prioritizing self-care: Taking care of oneself through proper diet, exercise, and sleep can help individuals build resilience and reduce vulnerability to stress
Setting realistic goals: Setting achievable goals and focusing on positive outcomes can help individuals build resilience and reduce stress.
Seeking professional help: For individuals who are struggling with stress or stress-related disorders, seeking professional help can be an important step in building resilience and improving mental health.
In conclusion, stress resilience and vulnerability are important concepts that can impact our lives in significant ways. By practising healthy coping mechanisms, seeking social support, prioritising self-care, setting realistic goals, and seeking professional help when needed, individuals can build resilience and reduce vulnerability to stress. With these strategies in place, individuals can better manage stress and improve their overall well-being.
References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627312007532
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352289514000058
https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.2.195