The nature of stress.

[Laharl]

A lot of people think stress is caused by the environment or situations or stuff along those lines. For example, they say a person that has an exam the next day will feel a certain amount of stress about it, or rather, that person at the very least will say the test the next day is causing them stress.

It's not true.

Stress is ENTIRELY fabricated in our minds. The test the next day could be a reason to GET stressed, but it doesn't mean you have to feel it.

Basically, a person can look at the exact same situation and feel two compltely different things. Let's look at an example of hurricane Katrina victims. Let's say we've got two guys, both of whom had their house completely destroyed, and were reunited with their families after a few weeks. One guy might think his life sucks because he's got nothing left, and the other guy will think it's the best day of his life because he knows his family is still alive.

I noticed in the suicide thread, some folks were saying that some people cannot help but think about certain things. That's a lie psychology fell on because it'd be an excuse and therefore makes it okay to feel helpless. If you wrap your mind around a negative thought, your thinking will be poisoned. Everything you think while in a stressful state isn't necissarily the truth, and once you recognize you're in a state of stress and trying to solve a problem, step back from the situation for a little bit. Clear your head. It's not always easy, but the principle is very simple.

I learned all this stuff when I was up in Washington last week, btw, and just felt like posting it.