Dark: Ambiguous is a great word for it. Hard to define because it steps onto grounds that typically belong to anxiety, amongst other emotions...there's the light bulb I needed to figure it out!! More on that in a second..
Stress is definitely intertwined with work for me. So many deadlines, things that must be completed within a given time slot, etc...but I take pride in what I do so the end result makes the journey worthwhile. Although do this too much, and the end result is overlooked because I'm too fatigued from the journey. It's like trying to balance on your tippy nose!
Ah, see I wasn't even thinking of food cravings/lack of appetite...me and my one tracked mind! Those most definitely are symptoms of stress.
April: I feel the same way when I work on the edge of panic, getting fatigued and all. Although, the more I do it, the less fatigued I get. Kinda like working out, the longer I do it, the more I can do later. Is this the same for you?
Ok, so the conclusion I'm coming to is that stress is typically the precursor to the next emotion. If one is to adapt, or accept change, then stress is no worse then changing clothes. It's kinda like going to the dentist for the first time in years...they'll probably have to fix your teeth, which may hurt during....but afterwards you can smile like a rockstar! Stress therefore, is the point in between emotions, where you have to figure out what comes next.
This makes sense in why stress doesn't hurt me like anxiety. Anxiety knocks me down almost every time. Stress, is more of a way to balance how much one is doing. The symptoms that come into play with stress, are a result of too much/too little being done. It's a way of predicting what will come next...however figuring out what comes next is all a game of risk! Sometimes you get it right, sometimes not. Accepting this is key to dealing with it...now there's something I can work with!! Sorry everyone, just typing what I'm thinking...what do you all think?
Cheers for helping bring me to that conclusion Dark, April and Brenna!!!