Emotional stress has a bigger impact than we thought
Fighting with your spouse, tensions at work, a negative co-worker or friend -- these are all things that cause us to be emotionally stressed out. Usually, when the problem is resolved, our stress melts away and we feel relieved. But what if that stress has a lasting impact on our health? Ac coding to this, social interaction plays a much bigger role in our lives -- as the author puts it, we can catch someone's emotions just as easily as we can catch a cold from them. This works both ways, as people can spread both harmful negative emotion as well as helpful positive emotion.
I can relate to this. For years, I worked in an office full of nitpicky, mean and downright catty people who were unhappy with their lives and tried to spread that unhappiness all around. My current workplace is free of those negative emotions, thank goodness. But it doesn't seem fair that someone else's negativity can impact our own emotional health. How do we protect ourselves?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-18-2006 @ 8:47PM
L Mac said...
Martha this is really hitting home for me right now. I am a teacher and recently my principal observed me. The entire time she was in the room, she appeared to be enraged. With two beet red cheeks and stiff cords in her neck she frowned, scowled, glared and just did everything except hiss and spit. Her fingers pounded the keyboard of her laptop computer as she took notes. At first I thought it was lucky that the kids couldn't see her but their behavior and demeanor became very anxious and agitated as the hour went on. They didn't need to see her - they could feel her anger. We were all very relieved when she left.
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11-20-2006 @ 9:40AM
Justine said...
The best way to protect yourself from negativity is to know that positivity is stronger and remain calm, peaceful, and happy. Let people be themselves, as you are allowed to be a beacon of positivity. There is plenty of good available for everyone!
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1-25-2007 @ 6:26AM
Tammy said...
Life can be such a downer. I hate to be soooooooo negative or even depressive, however, it is true. I'm currently a student in counseling psychology and I'm crazy enough to also pursue a degree in forensics. STRESS is my name. Today, I had to leave all my classes, cancel work, and push all work aside so that I could come back to my stable self again. If a pin dropped, I would probably cry.
I have a friend who is always positive and she is never bothered by life. I still have the hardest time trying to understand how anyone could be so positive all the time unless, however, they are constantly in denial.
Anyway, I found that when she is around me, I can't really mope or be depressed. I instantly forget my problems because she's always talking or doing something that distracts me from my problems or stressors.
In essence, perhaps the answer to emotional stress and pain is to have at least one person, that you can tolerate, who is positive and can offer you some encouragement. Sometimes religious affiliation can help you through, mom is one you can talk to, a good level headed and humble psychologist or counselor, or just a good listener (e.g., a dog, a bird, etc.). All of these things can be helpful. Even me writing this right now has helped to relieve some of my emotional discomfort.
Emotional strain, stress, and depression is unfortunately apart of life. Knowing how to efficiently deal with it and effectively manage it will aid in your recovery or at least your coping mechanisms.
Just try it! I will be trying it too.
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