William W. Lee, Ed.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

MYTHS ABOUT STRESS

Myth: We always know when we are under stress.

Fact:  Often people become so accustomed to stress that they are unaware of it. Nevertheless, the effects of stress accumulate. Many of us suffer the harmful effects of stress even though we don't feel tense. Stress can subtly change the way you treat others or damage your body even in the absence of feelings of frustration or anxiety.

Myth: My job requires a lot energy and aggressiveness.Relaxation training and stress management will hurt my performance.

Fact: Relaxation training affects performance only in a positive fashion. Contrary to popular misconceptions, relaxation training actually increases energy and vitality, helping your body replenish its reserves. Second, one can act or behave in a dynamic way without being tense. Actually, relaxation assists one in choosing how best to act or present oneself when under fire, make better decisions and have greater control over behavior. Third, a relaxed appearance inspires confidence on the part of others and increases their trust in your confidence.

Myth: The only way to lower stress is to change your surroundings or take medicine.

Fact: The most reliable and effective way to reduce stress is to change your outlook on life, develop stress management skills and learn to be prepared to deal with stress in the future.

Myth: It is better to relax with a drink, T.V. or drugs.

Fact: While there are many external "relaxants", the physical and emotional dependency on externals to relax may deprive you of effective self-control. A vicious cycle of escapism is sometimes promoted.

Myth: Stress affects only those who have high pressured lives.

Fact: Many ordinary individuals experience the constant stress of worry, leading unfulfilled lives, or of not being what they would like to be.

Myth: Relaxation decreases energy and results in feelings of fatigue or sleepiness.

Fact: Relaxation actually conserves energy which was formerly wasted through tension or stress.Through relaxation training one can control energy and direct it toward more useful purposes.

Myth: Relaxation training will change my personality and I will become boring.

Fact: Relaxation certainly influences the effect we have on other people. A relaxed person appears self assured and confident; is easier to be with; can be more natural and engaging; and is able to have clearer perceptions of social situations.

Myth: Emotions have a will of their own and cannot be controlled.

Fact: Tension comes from factors over which we can gain control. We can alter the way we feel by first changing the way we think and changing the way we act. For example, avoiding procrastination can reduce our worry about performing work. Creating a new understanding of a situation can reduce our perceived threat or irritation about it.

Myth: Stress is caused by things that happen to us.

Fact: The opposite is true. Events do not cause stress. Instead, the views that we take of the events, the meanings we give to them and what we tell ourselves about them can create or decrease stress.

Myth: The effects of stress are trivial and inconsequential.

Fact: Stress costs 50 - 75 billions dollars a year, more than $750.00 per U.S. worker.

Myth: Stress management doesn't reduce anger.