The world is moving at a fast pace. We have barely had time to get acquainted with the latest technological innovation when a new version is already being promoted and sold nationwide. This is undoubtedly an exciting time to be alive but also a very challenging one. Our minds are feeling this new pressure and starting to collapse under the massive amount of information we need to digest and the increasing number of decisions we have to make on a daily basis. 

Contrary to popular belief, stress is not something we can cope with, let aside master it. Stress is not an ailment or external condition but the first of the mind’s defense mechanisms. It is an SOS signal that the mind sends out when it becomes overwhelmed by different circumstances or events, be it little rest, relentless pressure, constant worries or continuous exposure to a precarious environment. On the initial stage, signs are channeled through the physical body as minor sleep disorders, lack of appetite, muscular cramps and anger bouts. However, if constantly ignored, stress can develop into serious conditions such as depression, addictions and risk of major physical collapse including heart-related problems.

Traditional approaches have tried to combat stress by focusing on its effects, which manifest primarily on the physical body. Prescriptions, regular exercise and vacations all bring positive, albeit temporary, relief. But not a few days or weeks have passed that we are haunted back by the same or even worse problems. Focusing on the effects will only lead us to a never-ending road of patching up holes and short-effect remedies. The problem is not in the body but in the mind and needs to be confronted not when it has fully grown or at its inception but before it is even born.