There is very real and genuine stress and there is also a huge amount of stress we create for ourselves because of how we think. So much of our stress stems from our thoughts about things, and often unconsciously thoughts about ourselves, and these all drive a host of biochemical reactions.
We create stress for ourselves every day while we sit at our desks and react to our emails or race through our day feeling pressured to get as much done as possible. For the younger generation of women, it is social media that has become a huge source of stress.
In a recent article published by the Wall Street Journal, a courageous whistleblower has shared how even Facebook’s own internal research has highlighted how Instagram (which is owned by Facebook) is an engine of ‘social comparison’ for teenage girls and the devastating impact this has on their self-worth.
It doesn’t matter what it is that is driving our stress, it can all have a profound effect on our health when it is as constant and relentless as it is for too many people today.
Recently I was invited to speak at TEDx Currumbin. The event was held at Dust Temple (a space that is a masterpiece of creation) and it was a joy to speak in front of a live crowd.
I chose to bring my ideas about changing the way we think about stress, to life. After all, TEDx is about sharing ideas. These ideas have been formed from my research as well as working with patients for over 20 years. I’ve been interested in the stress response for a long time and the way we think can contribute significantly to the stress we experience.
Alongside supporting people to manage stress, I feel it is well overdue to also understand more about what leads us to produce stress hormones in the first place, and endeavour to address what we learn.
It was an honour to share my insights at this special event and I’m delighted to now be able to share the talk with you.
You can watch the full video here.
