We have become used to stress. We have become so used to it that we have even developed a certain Stockholm syndrome, that is, many of us have a complicit relationship and a strong emotional bond with our captor.
We know that stress increases the risk of brain ischemia - an obstruction of blood flow that makes it difficult for blood to access the brain. Also, that people with very demanding jobs and little possibility of control are 58% more likely to suffer from ischemia than those who have calmer jobs. And this is so, among other things, because stressful jobs can lead to unhealthy habits. For example, having a sedentary life and an unbalanced diet.
But, despite knowing all these warnings, have we ever wondered why we maintain this rhythm of life and do not cut a relationship so harmful to us?
In recent years we have observed a very curious phenomenon: there are people who love to do many things at once, that feeling of not getting enough, of adrenaline. Perhaps they complain that they are overwhelmed, that daily tasks are beyond them ... but behind these verbalizations there is a certain taste. Because the personal reward (which rarely happens) of reaching everything, of achieving it, is priceless.
We have been educated to feel that if we stop, it is bad; that if we stop being busy, it is a sign of failure. And it is that sometimes stopping is very scary. It scares because it involves feeling and realizing many things that we overlook (or don't want to see) when we go at high speed on autopilot.
We should reflect on our commitment to our own well-being. Perhaps, the time has come to think about why we do this or that, to break with harmful relationships, and to give ourselves the space and time we need.
Maria Jose Ortega