So this is it, only a couple weeks till the end of my first semester in college. I’m eagerly awaiting the end but I know that there is a metric shit-ton of work to do, deadlines to meet and obligations to fulfill. I’d be lying if I said I wasn't daunted by this challenge. The reality of my situation is that I'm playing catch-up in my chemistry class while trying to stay ahead in all of my others and quite frankly I’m struggling. By no means do I think It’s impossible to push through this and come out on top but this new and personal experience with stress has allowed me to make some keen observations about the way I physically interpret stress.
First, let’s make it known that I am not a particularly anxious person. I sometimes experience the odd bout of anxiety but I wouldn't categorize any of my past experiences with the feeling as lastingly severe, so for reference I think my perspective on anxiety is probably relatable to the common person. We all get stressed but what does that really feel like? For me, when I get stressed I can feel it physically in different areas of my body: My chest feels light, my hands feel weak, and my head starts to swim. These physical responses to an emotion are certainly due to the chemistry within the body. The sympathetic nervous system controls the subconscious reactions that our bodies display in response to things stimulus. The reason that I feel like my heart is going to float out of my chest when I’m stressed is the same reason that loud noises make my heart rate increase.
What I find fascinating is the mapping and description of the feeling in detail. The way that dread feels compared to the way anticipation feels in minutely different and registers in different feelings in different locations. Both feelings can be described as stress and are similar in nature but at an individual level are unique and completely isolated from one another. I encourage you to try to map out the way your body responds to different emotional states. The next time you are stressed, try and differentiate the type of stress, anxiety or dread or anticipation, and then focus on your body. For me dread is a feeling that begins behind my eyes and pulses through my face and out my ears and down my neck into my chest where I suddenly feel an absence of comfort where my heart should be. Anticipation is similar to anxiety, a lightness is granted to my body’s weight but without the loss of strength in my hands. Getting to know your feelings in this way can help you put a name to what you are feeling and can help when a perspective shift is necessary. How often are you anxious and acting in a atypical manner without realizing that the cause of your abnormal behavior is your anxiety? By becoming familiar with the way that emotions feel to you, you are allotting more tools for you to recognize and balance yourself.
In addition to the practical benefits of mapping you emotions, doing so also helps you solidify an emotional identity. I had a friend who I would frequently discuss my map and also listen to her describe hers. Through those discussion and discussions with other people as well I have found that many people emotional experiences are variable and unique. I feel sadness behind my eyes and the sides of my head but my friend felt sadness in her chest and cheeks. Just having the tools and the dialogue to communicate feelings has great potential to help people understand one another. So again, I challenge you to map an emotion and compare it to someone else’s. Who knows, you might find someone who interprets emotion in a similar way as you do, or you can compare and celebrate your differences and show enthusiasm while learning and explaining about another person. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and see you next week.
