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Desperate Asks: Too Stressed To Not Care

“Hello Working Gals! That’s an exciting column you have in there. So, maybe a bit common problem but I feel very stressed. About life, about my job, about my relationships. I feel so stressed that sometimes I am blocked, and I don’t know how to move forward. Is this something I can do to help me?”

The Gal Answers

Hey, Desperate! To begin with, don’t call yourself desperate; you predispose yourself to feel this way, which can stress you out more. Your problem now. Stress is is a natural human response to challenges and threats, and it's your body's way of reacting to any situation that you perceive as demanding or threatening. Stress, in normal levels can help you overcome life-threatening situations; for instance, when someone makes dangerous manoeuvers while driving and you are close, your body will stress and put you in a position to avoid the unsafe driver. Also, stress in moderate amounts can help you carry out a tight deadline at work, helping you to find quick solutions to a problem and focus more on finishing it. However, if your stress levels go beyond ordinary, then you usually have this blockage which can paralyze you and you can’t move forward, per your words.

We can’t make an evaluation of your stress levels but stress in general has specific causes that rarely have to do with each minor incident. If you stress to a point you can’t think clearly when you miss the bus, then you are more stressed than you are supposed to be. There isn’t any magic wand that can help you battle stress; it needs time and effort. What you can do when you are in a stressful situation is to take a step back, breathe, and put the problem into perspective. Ask yourself why is this situation, person, or task is causing you so much stress and analyze whether it’s worth it. Is it a life-threatening thing or is it just a bump in the road? Also, what is the worst thing that could happen if it doesn't work the ideal way? These questions take you away from the problem and let you think more clearly and logically. Another thing is to just remove yourself from the place/person/situation that causes you stress and go for a walk. Sometimes, a cold water splash in the face can help.

On the other hand, if you are constantly stressed, from the moment you open your eyes until you go to sleep, or if your stress levels create obstacles in your life, you need to dig deeper into the problem because, as good as the above advice is, it won’t eliminate it. Have you considered therapy?

Plastic Asks: I want to have Botox.

“What do you think about Botox?”

The Gal Answers

What do I think, or what do you think? I would say go for it if you feel you need it!

D. Asks: What is beauty?

“My question is more theoretical and not so fix my problem. With all those social media beautiful people who constantly post themselves, I wonder what is beauty? What are the beauty standards we should follow? And if we all followed specific rules to be beautiful, wouldn’t it be a bit boring since we’d all look the same?”

The Gal Answers

If you are trying to define beauty only using social media as a context, then you are leaving behind a large part of history and a lot of discussion about this issue. Beauty standards have evolved significantly throughout history, often reflecting societal values, cultural norms, and economic conditions. What you think is beautiful from your point of view, experiences, and societal background, a person on the other edge of the world would probably laugh. Not because it’s funny or you lack taste but because beauty does not follow specific guidelines. It has formed according to people’s beliefs, aesthetics, and experiences. Just because, at this time in history, a particular standard of beauty is followed by a large majority of people, it doesn’t mean that we all agree with this and that it’s somehow the right one. Actually, there is no right or wrong.

Historically speaking, the question of whether beauty is objective or subjective has persisted for centuries as a philosophical debate. You can read this and this to gain some more insight on the matter.

Also, even if we all followed the same rules/guidelines/routines, we wouldn’t be the same; each one is undeniably unique. By the way, how realistic are these beauty standards nowadays? AI has done an incredible job of making us believe that flawless faces are real. They are not.

Sleepless Asks: I can’t sleep.

“I can’t sleep regular hours, and I feel tired all day. I don’t think that I’m stressed, but I can’t keep a regular sleep schedule. What do I do?”

The Gal Answers

I suggest that you read this and this. And book an appointment for a blood draw to test your Vitamin D levels.