The expert spoke about the causes of chronic stress in modern people.

Modern people are more likely to suffer from chronic stress than previous generations. This is due to the fact that nowadays there is a pressure of social media and an abundance of choice. Maria Kiselyova, Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Medical Psychology at Sechenov University, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, told Izvestia on April 16.

According to the expert, previously the main task was physical survival — wars, famine and devastation did not leave time for reflection. Today, despite its relative stability, stress has become chronic due to an abundance of choices, the pressure of social media, and inflated expectations. The brain is evolutionarily not adapted to such a large number of options, which leads to constant stress.

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Kiselyova clarified that chronic stress is more dangerous than acute stress: if short-term stress mobilizes, then prolonged stress undermines health, leading to cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders. Many people ignore the alarming symptoms, considering them the norm, but exhaustion of the nervous system becomes the price.

"Now, unfortunately, being stressed is partly a fashion. And people don't choose the right ways to get rid of it — alcohol, overeating, taking medications without a doctor's recommendation. Medications, of course, may be necessary, but they will not solve the main problem — the lack of constructive strategies to deal with stress," said the Doctor of Sciences.

In addition, people often turn to esotericism in an attempt to cope with stress. Predictions can have a therapeutic effect, helping a person sort out their thoughts, but most often, as the expert notes, people unconditionally believe in predictions and wait for its fulfillment.

According to Kiselyova, fortune-telling and rituals create only the illusion of control, and a real solution requires conscious action. To combat stress, she recommends physical activity, creativity, support for loved ones, and a rational analysis of the situation. If stress persists for months, disrupting sleep and daily life, it is important to seek professional help in time.

Earlier, on April 15, Valentina Kurenkova, the GR director of Netology, told Izvestia what to do if the atmosphere at work is toxic. According to her, the main difference between a toxic and demanding manager is that a toxic one damages the psychological state of employees, while a demanding one motivates them to grow by giving honest and transparent feedback. Toxicity overlaps in many ways with narcissism and a sense of superiority. This is manifested, among other things, in the desire to assert oneself at the expense of subordinates.