Thoughts significantly affect stress levels. Specifically, the way we think about a situation can be a major contributor to feelings of stress. These thoughts, often called maladaptive thoughts, cognitive distortions, or even "stinkin' thinkin'", can increase our perceived stress levels.
How Maladaptive Thoughts Increase Stress
Here's how these thoughts can lead to increased stress:
- Inflated Demands: Maladaptive thoughts can make a situation seem far more demanding than it actually is. For instance, thinking "I absolutely must get this perfect" when working on a project can feel overwhelming, increasing stress.
- Reduced Resources: These negative thought patterns can also make us feel as though we have fewer resources to cope with the situation. For example, thinking "I'm not capable of handling this" will reduce your perception of your abilities, again increasing stress.
The Connection to Danger Response
The key point here is that these thoughts ultimately lead us to evaluate a situation as dangerous. As the provided reference states, stress is a response to danger. When our thoughts amplify the demands and minimize our resources, we perceive a threat and, consequently, feel stressed.
Examples of Maladaptive Thoughts
Here are some typical examples:
Maladaptive Thought | Effect on Perceived Demands/Resources |
---|---|
"I can't handle this." | Reduces perceived resources, leading to a feeling of helplessness. |
"Everything must be perfect." | Inflates demands, making the task seem impossible to achieve. |
"This is going to be a disaster." | Inflates the perceived negative outcome, increasing anxiety and stress. |
"No one can help me." | Reduces perceived social support, isolating the individual and intensifying stress. |
Practical Application
Understanding how our thoughts affect stress can be a powerful tool. When feeling overwhelmed, it's important to take a moment to identify what thoughts are fueling the stress. By recognizing and challenging these unhelpful thought patterns, it's possible to reframe the situation and reduce the stress response. Techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be especially beneficial in this process.
In short, our thought patterns are crucial in determining our stress response. The information in the provided reference confirms that maladaptive thinking styles increases stress by increasing the perception of danger.