Stress Part 2: Overstimulation and Super-normal Stimulus
Why it sometimes feels like stress is everywhere
In the first part of this series we explored the nervous system - specifically the autonomic nervous system and how it regulates the functions of your body. From there, we explore what stress really is and how it affects us.
Generally when we talk about “stress” we think about our problems. The car wont start (one of my current problems). You’re arguing with your partner. Bills are coming due with less money coming in. A parent is sick.
Yet, as we unpacked in the previous article, stress isn’t a checklist it’s a state in the nervous system. Yes, thinking about everything that can go wrong can cause that state. But so can other things. Likely in some ways you’re so used to that you’re taking for granted.
Everyday Stress
In a perfect, magical fantasy world you’d cruise along with a well-balance nervous system. Calm, happy, enjoying life and making things. If something came along that was threatening or overstimulating you’d deal with it, then return back to baseline.
Unfortunately, most of us don’t live in that version of the world.
There are also some forms of stress we have evolved to deal with. The stress of a difficult workout, which causes us to become stronger and faster. The stress of childbirth, which results in a cascade of hormones that help us adapt, cope, and even bond with our child.
But there are many other forms of stress we didn’t evolve for.
Now, that doesn’t mean we can’t adapt to them - but we become so used to their presence that we don’t always realize they’re affecting us as stress.
Super-normal Stimulus
Take a second and consider your 5 senses - taste, sound, sight, smell, and touch - and what each of them evolved and adapted for.
How much light would our paleolithic ancestors seen in a day?
How loud was the loudest sound that wasn’t an emergency or natural disaster?
How quickly would they absorb information?
What kinds of foods and flavors were they exposed to daily?
What was their sense of comfort or discomfort they’d gotten used to?
Now - I’m not saying I’d like to trade places with them. That I wouldn’t miss showers and air conditioning and ice cream - all of which lower my general sense of stress on my mind, body, and nervous system. But consider what things in our lives we aren’t adapted for.
The sweetness of the ice cream is sweeter than anything those ancestors tasted.
The loudness of the music in my headphones.
The bright lights in the subway when commuting late a night from work.
Super-normal stimulus is whenever we experience something that is more intense or potent than could ever have occurred in the natural world.
Is it inherently bad? Absolutely not. But when we’re unable to process the information and stimulus we’re receiving - when it becomes chronically overstimulating a stressful - then we have a problem.
Chronic Overstimulation
I believe very strongly that most of us are suffering from being chronically overstimulated. By not most of us know that our phones have been wired to addict us to them - hacking our dopamine production so we’ll scroll just a little longer… a little longer… a little longer.
The best way I have to illustrate this is an anecdote from when I lived in New York City and worked at a famous luxury gym in Manhattan’s West Village. It was regularly frequented by the likes of Alec Baldwin, Cameron Diaz, and Will Farrell. As one of the personal training staff I would regularly wake up at 5a, have some coffee and breakfast, and walk to the subway. The bright florescent lights and screeching breaks would greet me as I boarded a packed train of early morning trade workers. There would regularly be unhoused people sleeping and the smells were often intense.
45 minutes later I would emerge to the street, trek to the gym, and that would start a 12 hour day of loud, thumping, trendy music. Over the course of the day I would see hundreds of people (in addition to my own clients). Then, after my last client, I would head out of the gym to do it all in reverse - the bright lights, loud train, smells, and vigilance for potential threat. I’d get home in time to eat something, watch TV, and crash - only to do it again the next day.
I didn’t know I was chronically overstimulated until lockdown.
Until all the bright lights, loud noises, and obligations suddenly evaporated.
Taking Time to Regulate
To be very clear: I am not saying all super-normal stimulus is always bad.
Again - I love my air conditioner in August and cake isn’t exactly natural. It’s when we’re overstimulated and overwhelmed all the time and we lose our ability to re-regulate to baseline. Over the next two installments of this series we’ll breakdown why some of us have a hard time regulating, what effective practice looks like, and how you can learn those tools for yourself.
The key takeaway for now: start observing the signs of overstimulation in your life.
What time of day do you become grumpy and you don’t know why?
When do you want to start yelling at traffic (regardless of if you actually do)?
Or… something so many of us do these days…
When do you know you’re tired but still scroll on your phone?
Learning to observe your signs of overstimulation and choosing to make the space to regulate is one way to break the stress cycle.
In the next article of this series we’ll explore polyvagal theory and how some of us get cross-wired by chronic overwhelm, stress, and trauma.