Once you reach a stress-breaking point, it is tough to snap out of it, so prevention is key.
It Happens to Everyone
It is important to acknowledge that breaking points are not uncommon. Even the most successful people in the world are not immune to constant stress or anxiety. Things naturally build up and when you start to feel like you’ve reached your peak, you need steps to keep from breaking – for your career, your future and your life in general.
Breaking Points Don’t Happen Overnight
Denying that you have a breaking point can be dangerous. So it is time to recognize the signs and avoid the snap. Deepak Chopra, an Indian-American author and alternative medicine advocate, describes chronic stress as if you were hearing a dripping faucet. He identifies three stages that turn the dripping faucet into a make-or-break situation:
- Step one – you are aware of being under pressure, but you are still in control
- Step two – Stress and anxiety start to cloud your judgment, and you start to lose control. You have to do everything in your power to not react with anger
- Step three – You can’t cope any longer and you explode, feeling embarrassed and regretful after
Here’s Your Sign
There are four very important signs to see and understand before the break happens:
You have trouble sleeping
Stress and anxiety can cause a lack of sleep, especially if you’re normally a deep sleeper! Tossing, turning, dreaming and waking up in a sweat can be massive indicators that stress and anxiety are playing a major factor in your life.
Your concentration is lacking
As a professional, it seems stress and anxiety come from trying to balance a bunch of responsibilities at once, which can quickly become overwhelming. This step can cause you to “space out” during meetings or while attempting to focus on one project. It is especially important to admit this is a problem when you are working on one project but find yourself thinking about another project or several other projects.
You feel like you can snap at any minute
Becoming easily frustrated or snapping at people is a key indicator of stress and anxiety coming to the tipping point. Oftentimes, if you have a lot going on or are starting to become overwhelmed, it’s easy to become more irritable. This seems to be the easier, but mot important sign to recognize. It can be seen if people who normally would be around you, laughing with you or simply enjoying your presence have been avoiding you or try their hardest to keep their distance.
You’d rather be alone
Interacting with people can become incredibly overwhelming when you’re stressed. The anxiety and stress can cause you to cancel on people you would normally want to be with, or shutting out friends and family when they do approach you. Ultimately, keeping these people away from you when they are trying to bring you up can create a rift between you and them. Sometimes the damage done between you and those people can be irreparable.
Prevention Is Key
Dr. Kurt Smith, Clinical Director of Guy Stuff Counseling and Coaching, mentions a few great points as to how to avoid the collapse that comes with stress and anxiety:
- Your body knows more than your head – Although your mind may try to convince itself that you are not stressed or that the stress can be overcome, if your body is starting to show the signs from earlier in this article, take a step back and listen to the body instead of your head.
- Keep a close eye on your diet, sleep and physical activity – this may seem like the easiest change to make, but it is often the first set of things to go when stress and anxiety start to kick in. However, maintaining your body’s balance of nutrition, sleep and physical activity can help your body feel better, which will alleviate some of the stress in your mind. Remember, your body knows more than your brain, so making your body feel better should be a major priority.
- Don’t ever be scared to ask for help – You should always use your support system when you need them. The nice part is that they’re the people who care most about you, so they will do anything to help you feel better and get back on track!
- Slow yourself down and create balance – You should take a few days and focus on these points, but also take some time to balance your work. Whether that be taking a day or a few off to relax and recenter yourself, or just organizing yourself on what work needs to be done and in what order. This balance will alleviate stress because you know exactly the order that things need to be done and when they will be done by.
Start Each Day Fresh
ShearShare works hard to bring solace and convenience to all beauty and barbering professionals. With our app, you can create your own schedule and balance what is needed to keep from breaking and ensure peace of mind. Download and register on our app today to lower your stress and increase your income!
