Mental Block And Stress: The Fish That Bites Its Tail
Today, few people can claim to have never suffered from a mental or emotional block. The frenetic pace of life and exposure to stressful situations mean that, at times, we notice that our brain is not working anymore.
Let’s see what exactly this mental block consists of and how it is related to stress.
Let’s first develop the concept of mental block itself.
In the words of psychiatrist Manuel Escudero, mental blockage is defined as “an interruption of a brain process that does not allow us to start or finish any activity or situation. This phenomenon can be considered as the inability to follow a line of thought that affects our behaviors, reduces our effectiveness and limits our potential to achieve our ultimate goal.”
So mental block is good or bad?
It is neither good nor bad. In the world of psychology we don’t talk about blacks and whites, we have to move more towards nuances.
In the case of mental blocks, if we stick to the definition, we are talking about a defense mechanism whose objective focuses on protecting us from a situation that surpasses us. Therefore it is something that protects us, is good for us and exists for a reason…
But like so many things, too much good can be dangerous, and these mechanisms are no exception. The problem comes when they are used excessively or at times when not only are they not necessary, but they are make it difficult for us to get out of a relatively easy situation that we unintentionally prolong
The blockage has a multi-causal origin: traumatic experiences, lack of self-esteem, anxiety, depression, lack of confidence or knowledge… All of this leads to a lack of response to a situation, which in turn leads to more anxiety, frustration, and stress.
At the brain level, a Canadian University carried out a study where they showed how the hormones that are released in situations of stress affect brain regions related to memory and spatial orientation, and influence the imbalance of neurotransmitters. This fact, in turn, influences the moments in which we feel like we are going blank and cannot remember significant ideas or objectives to pursue.
At the same time, feeling vulnerable and not knowing what to do leads us to feel more anxious, which in turn feeds mental blockage, etc. A loop of indecision is created that is sometimes difficult to break.
How to get out of that jam
Regarding the proposals for improvements in these situations, most have to do with a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, rest and physical exercise It is something so basic that it may sound like a joke, but there are several studies that give truth to this simple recipe.
For example, a study conducted on people with mental disorders indicates the ability to physically remodel brain structure simply by talking to themselves in a more positive way.
Words activate amygdaloid nuclei. Scientists at Harward University have shown that when a person reduces their inner cacophony (or as my psychology professor called it, the mental centrifuge) and finds silence, migraines and coronary pain can be reduced by 80%.
On the other hand, people who do some type of physical activity on a regular basis have lower levels of anxiety and stress Several studies have shown how exercise increases the concentration of norepinephrine in brain regions involved with the body’s response to stress. This has a direct effect on the frequency of episodes of mental blockage. Finally, according to scientific research on the subject, our immune system responds the same to lack of sleep as it does to exposure to stress.
Given that we live in a society where the rhythms of life dislocate us and mental disorders could become our daily bread, it seems unequivocal to say that part of the solution lies in ourselves, that it is a matter of attitude.
Dare to manage stress
First of all, we should not beat ourselves up when we are going through a stage of mental block. It is very easy to fall into the “I shouldn’t complain, there are people who are much worse off” and feel guilty and more frustrated for not being able to control that emotion
There will always be people who are having it worse, but there will also be people who are better off; We have every right to feel lost at some moments in our lives. The important thing is not to fall into the “comfort” of becoming a passive subject, wallowing in our own discomfort and taking an attitude of laissez faire in which we do not try to get out of that bad streak.
Every option that comes to mind, no matter how ridiculous it may seem, is a decision and, therefore, an opportunity. You have to try luck, and bad luck, and repeat again The important thing is to participate, right? And go out; escape the mental labyrinth in which we sometimes get trapped.
