Consequences on health, remedies and misdeeds: an anthology of received ideas on stress.
Myth 1: Stress is bad for your health
Stress is a completely normal reaction, a survival mechanism that pushes our body to mobilize in the face of danger. The body reacts by secreting specific hormones, such as adrenaline or cortisol, which will push the body into action. What is problematic is what is called chronic stress, which leads to its share of more or less long-term symptoms: migraines, eczema, fatigue, digestive disorders, palpitations, hyperventilation, etc.
Myth 2: the consequences of stress are essentially psychological
While stress can cause mental disorders and/or addictive behaviors, it can also be the cause of physiological disorders, such as musculoskeletal disorders, the first occupational disease, but also cardiovascular disorders or high blood pressure. .
Myth 3: Stress is motivating
Many people find that their productivity increases as the deadline for a task or project approaches. But is it really stress that motivates? In reality, it is the fact of being stimulated and setting goals that motivates us and not the stress.
Myth 4: Successful people are stressed
In our society, stress is often associated with better productivity. A person stressed by their work is often seen as involved, while a phlegmatic person gives the opposite impression. However, Andrew Bernstein, the author of the book The Myth of Stress , interviewed by Psychology Today magazine explains that there is no positive relationship between stress and success: « If you are successful and you are stressed, you succeed in spite of your stress, not because of it”.
Myth 5: Too much stress will give you an ulcer
In reality, the majority of ulcers are not caused by stress, but by a bacterium present in the stomach, helicobacter pylori, which causes inflammation of the abdominal area and the intestines.
Myth 6: chocolate is a stress reliever
Cocoa is rich in flavonoids and magnesium, compounds known for their stress-busting effects. It also contains tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin, also called the “happiness hormone”… The consumption of cocoa or dark chocolate could therefore have a de-stressing and anti-depressant effect.
Misconception n°7: sport is the best remedy against stress
By triggering the secretion of endorphins and serotonin, sport acts as a real anti-stress. But be careful not to practice it too late at night, as it can induce a state of hyperactivity and sleep disorders.
Myth 8: Drinking a glass of alcohol helps to de-stress
Drinking one or more glasses to relax after a stressful day is a bad idea. In fact, according to a 2008 study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism , alcohol actually promotes the production of cortisol, the stress hormone.
Myth 9: Symptoms of stress are the same for everyone
Tightness in the throat, lump in the stomach, racing heart, fatigue… Although we can recognize a range of possible elements, each organism reacts to stress in a very particular way.
Myth 10: Stress can cause cancer
It has never been proven that a psychological shock linked to a stressful life event could cause cancer. Although many scientific studies have explored this hypothesis, they have not been able to conclude that stress has a direct role in the appearance of cancer.
