External Stress vs Internal Stress!💙

Let's look at external stress versus internal stress. When people think they're under stress, most of the time they have an external event that they think is generating that stress. So that could be something like losing your job, a period of ill health, looking after an elderly parent or relative, something like that, that is an external stress. 💙

And yes, those do exist, they are external stressors. But often overlooked and much more important is the internal stress that we generate ourselves in response to the external stress. So if, for example, you've lost your job, do you then blame that on yourself... "not working hard enough", "could have done more"? 💙

Same thing for a relationship, lose a relationship, oh... "blame myself", "could have done more". It's the way we think about and react to the stress that causes even more stress generated internally. And that can go on and on and on, depending on how long we ruminate on it. 💙

So the external stressors are individual and discrete, but the internal stress is ongoing. So have a think about if you're generating internal stress, because that can be one of the routes into depression. 💙

https://www.epicentering.com/blog/external-stress-vs-internal-stress