Explainer | What is stress? New mother finds out the hard way as experts advise on managing it
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For Hong Kong psychoanalyst Diego Busiol, the word “stress” does not adequately reflect the body and mind’s reaction to a perceived pressure.
“The term tends to flatten complex human phenomena into something overly generic,” he says. “It’s much more nuanced than that. It affects people differently.”
“When it has direction and meaning, it can be a catalyst for growth, learning and creation. Think of someone starting an enterprise full of hope and curiosity. The physiological arousal they feel isn’t pathology – it’s enthusiasm,” Busiol says.
If “stress” aligns with a person’s desire, he explains, “it mobilises them”. On the other hand, if it is not in sync with their wants and direction, “it immobilises”.