Stress can get people down so much that they can’t even think clearly. Have you ever had that happen to you? It might not be a common occurrence but it can happen, even to people you would not suspect it would happen to.
I recently saw an example of this happening. With all the stress that this time year brings on people, now compounded by a bad economy, I thought it would be good to talk about this.
Recently someone asked for my advice on making a choice, because he said that the stress of having to make the choice was too great and that he could not even think it through. His job is going away, at least in its current form, and he is faced with two alternatives for income, with neither of them being desirable.
I asked him if he had done the math, to see which alternative provided the better income. He had not. This surprised me, because I knew him to be a person who is normally good at thinking about which alternative is mathematically (financially) more sound. And, it is also when I realized how sinister stress can be, and how much it can impact the ability of our brains to function.
Just realizing that he could actually mathematically compare the two options helped him a lot. It relieved some of the stress. Of course, math is not all that is involved in making decisions, even economic ones, but sometimes “doing the math” is a big part of the decision process.
So what can we learn from this, and what other steps can we take when we are too stressed to think clearly? Well, I don’t pretend to know all the answers, but here are some things we can do:
- Talk with someone. This can be one of the most helpful things we can do, but we often do not do it because we are reluctant to let anyone know what we are going through. We don’t like to show a “weakness.” I am notoriously bad for this myself, and always like to keep my problems to myself, even though I know it is not a wise thing to do. Hence, I am preaching what I do not practice, because I know talking with someone can be very helpful. It helped my friend.
- Create alternatives. Stress is often due to having to choose between two unpleasant alternatives. So, if you take a pad of paper and just start brainstorming on the problems, asking yourself if there are other things you can do, it can be very helpful. Sometimes you can find an alternative that is actually attractive.
- Use a methodical decision-making process, such as I have outlined in this article on problem solving.
- Do deep-breathing. Exercise. Walk. The objective is to get more oxygen to your brain.
- Make sure you are feeding your brain properly. Stress often hurts the appetite, which in turn leads to more stress, because the brain needs nutrition. Your brain is like a furnace in some ways … it consumes a lot of the calories you put into your body, and it needs fuel to operate properly.
- Get rid of some activities. If you can, get rid of some of the things on your to-do list. Delegate or postpone. Pick what’s important for now, and get the other stuff away from your brain so you can focus better.
- Consider anti-depressants. Anti-depressants may be over-prescribed, but they can be helpful. Consult with a physician on this. If that’s a stress you don’t want for now, consider some of the herbal remedies … St. John’s Wort is considered to be pretty helpful. Beware, though: all medications, even herbal ones, have side effects.
That’s the list of things you can do that comes to my mind. My hunch is you have some excellent suggestions, and I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.