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News Topical, Digital Desk : Secondhand stress is like a viral infection, spreading rapidly from one person to another. If the environment around you is stressful or your coworker is constantly anxious, it's natural for it to affect you.

Sometimes you can't understand the cause of your stress, or you feel anxious for no apparent reason. These are the symptoms of secondhand stress, which can gradually lead to depression. According to a report by the Mental Health Foundation, some people experience more secondhand stress than primary stress. 

Stressed by the stress of others 

Sometimes, we become so affected by the problems of others that we ourselves become victims of stress. Their negative thoughts overwhelm us to such an extent that our ability to think and understand begins to diminish. In such situations, we are unable to help them or ourselves. As a result, we ourselves become trapped in the same negative cycle. Let's learn how to avoid this. 

  • Maintain emotional distance - Whenever you feel yourself being affected by secondary stress, it's important to distance yourself from the situation. Don't get deeply involved in someone's problems unless they ask for your help. Constantly worrying about others won't help you, but instead, you'll become increasingly stressed.
  • Self-care: To help someone who is stressed, it's important to maintain a strong mental state. Therefore, practice deep breathing daily . Practice yoga and meditation to strengthen your mental state. Spending time with nature will also help you stay positive. 
  • Accept controllable things - No matter how hard you try, some things are beyond your control. So remind yourself repeatedly that the other person's feelings, reactions, and decisions are beyond your control. You are only responsible for your own feelings and reactions.

The brain cannot differentiate between stress and

Feeling sad about others' problems is also stress. This type of stress is called "vicarious," in which the brain often can't distinguish between direct and indirect stress. In the age of internet media, stress can be felt even without any personal incident. Therefore, stay away from negative news and engage in a digital detox . Set mental boundaries when helping others.


Read More: Feeling stressed for no reason? Are you a victim of 'secondhand stress'? Learn how to prevent it.

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