Cortisol

Stressed ako pirme! This could be heard in the workplace and these complaints are always directed to the workload and the people around those who are edging towards burnout. One could wonder why there are people who could do away with the so-called stress gracefully. It seems that they understand how to deal with the pressures and see the way out of its negative effects to the emotions, body and the entire well-being.

Psychology Today mentions that stress generally refers to two things: the psychological perception of pressure, on the one hand, and the body's response to it, on the other, which involves multiple systems, from metabolism to muscles to memory.

A stressful event—whether an external phenomenon like the sudden appearance of a snake on the path or an internal event like fear of losing one's job when the boss yells—triggers a cascade of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, that surge through the entire body, speeding heartbeat and the circulation of blood to support quick action, mobilizing fat and sugar for fast energy, focusing attention to track the danger, preparing muscles for movement, and more.

Over the last few years, this is mentioned by people who have responsibilities and relationships to the point that one will wonder how to manage and prevent stress from overcoming one’s equilibrium.

If you’re living with high levels of stress, you’re putting your entire well-being at risk. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional status, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy life.

Effective stress management, on the other hand, helps you break the hold stress has on your life, so you can be happier, healthier, and more productive. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun—and the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on. But stress management is not one-size-fits-all (Robinson, 2019).

There are those of us who feed on it. Others consider this as a gauge of being effective. They overwork themselves to show that they are functional individuals. They even consider people who find time unwinding and enjoying their weekends as inefficient.

At first, the term “Savior Complex” may have a positive connotation. However, when you learn more about it and the underlying motivations and impact on others, it is clear that this behavior pattern can be problematic (Benton, 2017).

According to the blog PeopleSkillsDecoded.com, the savior complex can be best defined as “A psychological construct which makes a person feel the need to save other people. This person has a strong tendency to seek people who desperately need help and to assist them, often sacrificing their own needs for these people.” They also work all the time to save the company, organization or...the world.

But then again, you cannot really change other people. You can only change your attitude towards them. If they do stuff which may shatter your footing, you are the one to allow yourself to be bothered. You are allowing cortisol to develop inside your system. But if you decide NOT to let others take away your peace, all would be well.

The Second of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is “Don’t Take Anything Personally.” This book chapter and the following quote teaches key concepts that may provide helpful guidance for those struggling with savior complex tendencies:

“You are never responsible for the actions of others; you are only responsible for your own.”

People who seek out power or find themselves unexpectedly in positions of power often develop such ideas about themselves; after all, their employees, citizens or dependents count on the leader’s competence, permission, wisdom, generosity etc. to survive. In the sense of power “going to someone’s head”, it can definitely twist up someone’s perspective of the world. This state of being is often linked to having delusions of grandeur, but it is not technically a diagnosable psychological disorder (Staughton, 2017).

The direction of this discourse is for us to realize that we cannot control everything or everybody. Some might agree with us or others might not be aligned to our beliefs. By having this mindset, we can avoid stress or be exposed to stressful situations which can be counterproductive.

It is a fact of life that THINGS HAPPEN. We do not have all the control over them.

In the end, we must not be enslaved by work. We must find meaning from the work we do and maintain our well-being, God even rested on the seventh day…