Stress can be as contagious as a cold and one stressed person can 鈥榠nfect鈥� a whole office.

That鈥檚 according to a聽 from 2014 鈥� and it鈥檚 something that is increasingly being recognised as a problem.

People are beginning to understand that passive or secondhand stress can be as damaging as stress that originates with us.

On National Stress Awareness Day, Sally Brown, a 香港六合彩精准资料 member, personal development coach and psychotherapist, has taken a look at the issue of contagious stress.

鈥淭丑谤辞耻驳丑听,聽we can 'catch' the mood of people we spend time with, whether positive or negative, even if we鈥檙e not verbally communicating with that person,鈥� she said.

鈥淓veryone has the potential to be a 鈥榮tress sponge鈥�, and absorb the stress from those around them, but empathic people are at greater risk.鈥�

One study found that聽聽in people simply observing an individual under stress.

Emotions spread via the mirror neurons in the brain, which mimic emotional responses in others and help us empathise.

But Sally said that if you鈥檙e in a situation where you鈥檙e regularly exposed to secondhand stress, make sure to prioritise general stress-beating strategies, such as spending time with supportive and uplifting people, keeping active and making time to relax.

Sally Brown

Sally Brown, coach and counsellor

She recommends three strategies for coping with second-hand stress.

Destress your body language

鈥淢imicking the body language of stressed people is the first step to absorbing their stress,鈥� said Sally. 鈥淭ense muscles are a major stress-inducer as they send messages to the brain to release stress chemicals. Try setting a reminder on your phone to do a regular 鈥榖ody scan鈥� throughout the day, checking your shoulders aren鈥檛 hunched or your jaw clenched, and consciously relaxing any tense muscles.鈥�

Create a personal stress bubble

鈥淰isualise a forcefield around you that keeps out other people鈥檚 stress. Use an image that works for you 鈥� whether it鈥檚 an invisible bubble or a sheet of glass. Picture waves of stressful vibes bouncing off it. It鈥檚 a useful tool if you work or live with a stressed person. It allows you to listen and be sympathetic without absorbing the negative impact of your partner鈥檚 emotions, which leaves you in a better place to help them.鈥�

Use the 鈥�3 W鈥檚

鈥淥ur 鈥榖etter safe than sorry鈥� brains evolved to focus on negative emotions, as these were more likely to signal danger,鈥� she added. 鈥淢aking a point of consciously savouring positive events can help counteract this negativity bias, and build your resilience against secondhand stress. At the end of each day, ask yourself: What鈥檚 going well in my life right now? What is there to be pleased with? What is there to be grateful for?鈥�

To speak to a local counsellor or psychotherapist about stress, search our Therapist directory.

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