Varied amounts of pressure around specific moments such as preparing for events or meeting up with targets, can be expected at one point in our lives or another. Scientifically, when we feel under pressure, the nervous system instructs our bodies to release stress hormones which produce physiological changes to help us cope with the threat or danger we interpret as a form of stress. This is called the “stress response” or the “fight-or-flight” response. We tend to pick the fight response more often but this may not be some people’s story. Here is their coping mechanism:

Comfort: It depends on where it is coming from. I have different responses to different situations, such as business stress, emotional demands, family exigencies and other things that just need attention. My panic level sky rockets through the roof when I am under internal pressure from having to make decisions or choose between dresses for a dinner date; there’s always a pro and a con for each outfit and I literally sweat. Seems funny but this is my ultimate reality. However, this is not the same for business or performance routines. I term that kind of pressure “work stress”. Being in the logistics business, somehow, I am engulfed by mounts of challenges that constantly require immediate fixes. Blocking out all forms of distraction and making that deliverable my sole focus, I won’t stop till a resolution is reached. Besides, that’s where my daily bread comes from and I can’t allow my emotional or panicky self, jeopardize any chances of making good on my word.

Naomi: When the pressure hits, no matter how it happens, all focus is on fixing the issue and getting it over with. My personal slogan is “we die here” that interprets as “it’s a do or die affair”. I immerse myself in the moment, using every emotion and mental acuity needed to surmount whatever is trying to cave me in. This, however, is only achievable after I have zoned out completely. No jokes. With everything coming at me, I need a breather to be able to function optimally. Breathers for me, come in variant phases. It either starts with seeing a movie or reading a book and it ends with sleeping, and I mean a good sleep that leaves me drained when I wake up, as though I dropped a heavy load in dream land.

Uche: I’m not easily self-motivated to do anything. This makes me a whirlwind when I am under pressure. I literally melt like magma under the impounding weight of demands pilling up. I didn’t come to this life to stress myself, I’m here for the soft life. This part of me was in dire need of a support system, my friend Joshua. He helps me to properly process my thoughts and collate a list of necessary actions I can take in the moment. I think, not everyone knows how to manage pressure so find the people who can help you build stamina and have them in your inner circle.

Fight or flight, how would you tell your pressure management story?